The Stone Giants really springs from several sources. The first is my southern heritage as made evident by the made-up accent given to the characters. This was inspired by Mark Twain's use of dialect in Huck Finn which I really enjoyed. It is hard to read at first, but I find that speaking it aloud helps. The basic plot point of houses built into trees was also inspired by Louisiana. In the swamp and near rivers, homes are built on stilts and up into the trees as the area is flooded for a portion of the year and the only access is by boat. I also consider this to be a part of my series of children's stories and although it has a sci-fi/fantasy approach, the basic idea of responsibility is still present.
