Dannielle asked Melissa Marr:

I confess, I did not scroll through every single question and answer yet, I got too excited when I thought of my own question to ask. Is there a piece of literature, or a story, myth, fairy tale, or bit of folklore that you always find yourself going back to? Rereading for the joy it brings, or using for inspiration when you hit a block or just need to get your creative juices going again? XOXO Danni

Melissa Marr It's less of a re-reading than collecting MORE information on a topic. The beauty of lore and myth is that there is not a SINGLE authority. There are many bits and pieces that are collected, so for me the path is collecting essays, academic articles, stories or even travel tied to certain topics.

Selchies are a big one for me. One of the things I did after I sold my first books (a decade ago) was travel to Orkney (island off the north coast of Scotland) where the selchie myth originates. There is something magical about walking along the coast where long gone people walked and crafted those stories.

Obviously, faeries are a regular interest, too. I go to Scotland almost every year, and here and there, I go to Ireland or England. There are shelves of articles and books on faeries I've collected.

I think, for me, it about drowning myself in reading on a beloved topic or a tangential one.

Great question. Thank you.

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