Sound of Madness A Dark Royal Romance - Maria Luis Page 0,184
Dear Fabulous Reader section that talks about which locations from the book can be visited in real life or what sparked my inspiration for a particular plot point. (I like to think of it as the Extras on DVD’s, LOL).
As always, we’ll hit it up bullet-point style—enjoy!
There are so many aspects of Sound of Madness captured from reality that it seems easier to start with something that is entirely fictional—Damien’s poisoning! Alas, Baron Hastings does not exist and CL-152 can’t be found in the world. Then again, this might be a good thing, LOL. Since I’ve always been fascinated with the sci-fi genre creating whole subplots around medicine impacting the life or death of a character (like in the Matrix!), I couldn’t resist dipping my toes into the water, especially because . . .
Rowena’s experience with transient post-traumatic cortical blindness is very much based on a true case study—in fact, I used it in the book during that first scene with Dr. Matthews! Like Rowena, the patient’s blindness occurred quite suddenly, after falling six stories. Also like Rowena, her vision returned entirely on its own days later. Unlike Rowena, however, the patient remained in critical care during her recovery so that she could be watched by doctors. For the sake of the plot, I sent Rowena out into the world. You can read the case study here, if you’re interested.
Did Damien’s Old Norse tattoo catch your interest? I’ve always been a little obsessed with mythology, and when I saw the cover model’s tattoos, I allowed my fantasies to spin to a very nerdy bent. While I used the English translation for Damien’s ink about Odin’s ravens, Huginn and Muninn, the Anonymous Verse in the Third Grammatical Treatise (Tarrin Wills) features the original version and discusses how the origin of the poem is unknown—though it began to appear around 1,000 A.D..
Many of the locations that I referenced in Sound of Madness can be visited. In no specific order, here are some of the lesser known places:
Holly Village, North London: Holly Village just may be my new favorite addition to the Broken Crown landscape. Completed in 1865, this Gothic-inspired estate actually boasts multiple properties for the Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, who was one of the richest women in England—second only to Queen Victoria! She was also good friends with Charles Dickens. While I took many liberties (the undercroft/chapel, medical room, and greenhouse), it seemed only fitting that Rowena make her home in a place that is both stately and regal. Today, these properties are leased to various tenants but you can still drive by Swain’s Lane to catch a peek through the sycamore trees! P.S., there is no Palladian temple on site but hello creative liberties!
The Jewel Tower, London: Have I mentioned that I’m a total nerd? I loved the idea of Edward Carrigan being holed up in this building that looks like a fortress but was always just used for storage—jewelry, documents, the whole shebang. Architecturally, it’s pretty fabulous. The iron door from the 17th century is real, as are the original vaulted ceilings. Plus, with its close proximity to Westminster, we know that the prime minister would be able to store his most valuable documents here without breaking too much of a sweat.
Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, England: When I first mentioned (in Road To Fire) that Robert Guthram had been stuck in an insane asylum for ten years, I never picked a location. And if I’m being completely honest, I chose Broadmoor—at first—because I used to live in New Orleans’ Broadmoor neighborhood and it seemed like an ironic twist of fate. With that said, there’s no better fit. Opened in 1863, Broadmoor Hospital has a storied past. It was used as a POW camp during World War I, has housed some of the country’s most infamous serial killers over the years, and for many decades was particularly known for running a two-tone alarm system (inspired by the sirens during air raids) every Monday morning at 10 a.m. It was all too easy to allow my imagination to run wild while Damien & Rowena tried to save themselves.
The Bascule Chambers, London: When sketching out this section of Damien & Rowena’s journey, I really wanted to place the scene in a location that was as close to the “Underworld” as you might find in London. The air needed to be so damp that it felt oppressive while the darkness became a thick blanket that you had no hope of escaping. The Bascule Chambers are a functioning part of Tower Bridge—to me, it felt like the perfect spot for chaos to ensue. I highly recommend a tour on your next trip to London—you might even catch a concert there!
Honorable Mentions: Dunrobin Castle, 3 Ryder Street, London (you can visit some beautiful galleries next door), Palace of Westminster, and the White Cliffs of Dover.
We’ll Miss You Mentions: Buckingham Palace, The Bell & Hand (aka The Bell In Hand, located in Boston, Mass), and Ightham Mote. Man, we had some major architectural casualties in this book! R.I.P.
As always, there are many more behind-the-scenes inspiration tidbits, but here is just a sampling! If you’re thinking . . . that seems rather fascinating and I want to know more, you are always so welcome to reach out! Pretty much, nothing makes me happier =)
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About the Author
Maria Luis is the author of sexy contemporary romances.
Historian by day and romance novelist by night, Maria lives in New Orleans, and loves bringing the city's cultural flair into her books. When Maria isn't frantically typing with coffee in hand, she can be found binging on reality TV, going on adventures with her other half and two pups, or plotting her next flirty romance.