My First Book Idea: Mythological Fantasy

In my first article on the topic of writing, I want to share the idea for a book I would like to bring to life. This idea has been in my head for ten years. It all started with a dream about temples in the ocean that draw you in when the moon goddess calls you.

Now, after reading more than 800 books, I can no longer use the excuse that I need to read more before I can start writing myself. So I’ve rolled up my sleeves and set myself the goal of finishing this book in 2026.

The Premise

What if the world were flooded? Not just a little, but to such an extent that only a few small islands remain. That is the premise of my book. Since the great flood, people live on the water and use the islands as best they can for food and basic survival. Many land animals have gone extinct, and the human population has dwindled to just a few hundred.

Scarcity ensures that everything is shared as fairly as possible and that nature is treated with care. The book begins as an apparent utopia, where there is no selfishness or lust for power—but that would be boring if paradise never ended. Extinction looms.

What Kind of Fantasy Is It?

This is where the fantastical element comes into play: the sea goddess has grown too powerful, and as a result, the gods of the land, flora, and terrestrial creatures have been severely weakened. Their energy has been cut off, causing plants and animals to face extinction as their life force and ability to reproduce begin to fade.

The gods do not usually interfere in life on Earth, but the moon goddess grants selected humans—those who have proven themselves particularly capable—the ability to wield magic. However, this power comes with costs and limits.

Intrusive Fantasy

The protagonist knows none of this yet. After proving herself in a trial that reopens wounds from her past, she learns about these events and experiences firsthand what the myths about the gods truly mean.

What Makes It Special?

What makes my book idea special is less the concept itself and more the circumstances. My protagonist goes through a classic hero’s journey, set in a wildly combined world shaped by my education and my interests.

Wildly Combined Cultures

For one, I love ancient Greece and its pantheon—so much so that I’m a fangirl of Homer, Euripides, and Apollonius of Rhodes. That’s why I created my own hierarchy of gods. However, the names have been “Greekified.” Since I grew up with Hungarian as my mother tongue (German is my father tongue), I used Hungarian as a kind of original language for the divine names.

An example illustrates this combination: my protagonist is named Remenike. Originally, I wanted to call her Reményke, which is the diminutive of “hope” in Hungarian. But since I wanted to give her a stronger name, I combined it with Nike, the goddess of victory, which also improves the melody of the name.

My Research

That’s not where the cultural cocktail ends. In my research on seafaring and life on the water, I came across oceanic cultures. I was especially drawn to Hawaiian culture, as I danced hula for several years. The boatbuilders of this culture are brilliant, as they constructed ocean-going vessels using simple means.

I was also inspired by the nature and climate of Hawaiʻi. Above all, their connection to nature impressed me, and I hope that my cultural blend reflects the respect and appreciation I feel, as I combine familiar elements with something new and foreign.

What Comes Next …

I have largely completed the plotting phase. It’s very exciting, because now the actual writing begins. Of course, I haven’t shared everything about my book on this blog—it should remain exciting, after all.

Why did the great flood happen, and what does the sea goddess have to do with it? How can people save themselves from impending doom, and can they ultimately become independent of the gods? And why is hemp one of the most important raw materials in my book?

Have the avid readers of my blog become curious and interested in reading my book? I would be very happy to receive comments.