Popular fantasy and romantasy authors have revealed the real-world locations and personal histories that have shaped their fictional worlds. Sarah J Maas, author of the ACOTAR series, shared in a 2016 interview that a trip to Scotland, including the Isle of Skye, partially inspired the setting for the prison in 'A Court of Mist & Fury'. Maas also draws on English, Irish, and Hindu mythologies.
Rebecca Yarros, known for the 'Fourth Wing' series, has spoken about her military upbringing and her husband's service influencing her writing. She also visited the Shire in New Zealand, inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien's work.
Callie Hart's 'Quicksilver' series was influenced by her experiences in Abu Dhabi, which inspired a desert city, and her time living in ski resorts, which informed a wintery forest landscape. Hart also cited Scotland as a source of inspiration.
For Saara El-Arifi's 'Faebound' series, West African culture and a childhood memory in Ghana inspired elements like the creature Obeah. Nikita Gill's 'Hekate' was informed by her childhood experiences in Kashmir and Northern Ireland, and the idea for the novel came from a dream in 2019.