Goodreads asked Michael James Ploof:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Michael James Ploof My most current project, The Orion Rezner Chronicles, is inspired by Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I love the idea of modern day wizards living amongst us. Eventually I realized that an urban fantasy with witches and wizards set in a post apocalyptic world would be awesome. I had recently gone on a trip to Boston with my family and thought that it would make a great setting. In my story, Boston is one of the last vestiges of humanity. It is protected by a giant spell shield that comes from Hancock Tower. I also wanted to inject the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin into the book, since his virtues and sayings have done so much for me personally. It wasn't long before the idea occurred to me that I would have the Ghost of Benjamin Franklin as a character. He became Orion's mentor and was the founder of the order of wizards. I was intimidated by attempting to represent Franklin through dialogue, so it occurred to me that maybe he can only speak in his own quotes, as he is a ghost anyway. It turned out to work really well. Also, Orion has a pet Chimpanzee named Dude who refuses to wear anything but superman pajamas, though he insists it means Superchimp. The book is a lot of fun, and I hope my Legends of Agora readers enjoy it as well.

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