I wanted to dig into those stories and set them against this contemporary backdrop. But characters like Medea and Hecate aren’t always the first names we think of when we talk of Greek myths. We all know Zeus, Hades, Persephone, etc. What I found most fascinating were the stories that aren’t as easily recognizable. I did a lot of research as I was preparing to write this book. We’ve had so many reimaginings of these tales and I wanted to bring some of those elements into this story, too. Lore Olympus, which imagines Greek gods against a modern backdrop, is just amazing. Hadestown is one of my favorite Broadway shows and is a reimagining of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. I am a fan of Rick Riordan and Madeline Miller. Mary’s family was torn apart and then put back together by what happens in the secret garden and some of those themes are present in This Poison Heart.Īnd then there is the Greek mythology element. It’s probably the gothic literature fanatic in me that envied Mary getting to live in that big old house on the Yorkshire Moors. The Secret Garden was also a big inspiration. The musical was a huge inspiration to me in the crafting of this tale.

The sentient plants, the songs, the dark and creepy atmosphere-Suppertime (Reprise) still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up every time I hear it-it’s everything I love and is all things weird and wonderful. My love of musical theater started at a very young age and when Little Shop of Horrors came out, I quickly became obsessed with it. The contemporary setting allowed me to put so many of the things that I love and am fascinated by into the narrative. This story, while set against many strange and wonderful events, is personal for me. Like most writers, I tend to draw on my own experiences that I’ve had throughout my life. The inspiration for this story comes from a variety of different places. It’s also a story about generational trauma and learning to break cycles that can be damaging to families. It’s a story about a girl with a unique ability, family secrets that spans generations, a creepy old house in a small town, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest plants on the planet. 'I like to describe This Poison Heart as Little Shop of Horrors meets the The Secret Garden with a Greek mythology twist. Here Kalynn discusses the inspiration behind her new novel: As a young woman explores her lineage she must decide whether she wants to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors or choose her own destiny. This Poison Heart is an empowering fantasy from the author of Cinderella is Dead, Kalynn Bayron. Kalynn Bayron on her novel 'This Poison Heart'

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