Cynthia Eden finds inspiration in haunted Alabama fort

Cynthia Eden, author of Broken (out today!) and 2015 RITA finalist for her paranormal romance Burn for Me, shares how a visit to Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island in Alabama inspired her new release.

Cynthia: Have you ever been to a place that just completely inspired you? A location that swept you away … or maybe even one that made you feel a little bit nervous?

Some locations can stir a variety of feelings within us, and when I visited historic Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island (Alabama), I was swept away. Ideas began to slide through my mind, one right after the other. Sure, most people probably went to the fort (a site that overlooks a gorgeous stretch of beach), and they saw the beauty of the place.

But me? Well, I stepped inside and immediately thought of killers.

After all, Fort Gaines is reputed to be one of the most haunted forts in the United States. Many ghosts are said to stalk the deep recesses of that place. And, years ago, Fort Gaines was even featured on the MTV show Fear. It's a scary (but beautiful) place, and as I walked inside, I got the idea for my latest romantic suspense, Broken.

It was the names that inspired me … names that had been etched into the old bricks, deep within the fort. I looked at those names and thought … what if these names were there for a particular reason? What if they weren't just randomly left behind by tourists?

What if a killer had left those names behind?

I stared at those bricks, and the Lady Killer was born. The villain of Broken, the Lady Killer is a serial killer who carves the names of his victims into the bricks at the historic fort. He has a special room deep within the fort that he uses, one that is accessed through a long, dark tunnel. His secrets have been buried at the fort for years, but, in my book, those secrets finally come to light … thanks to my heroine, Eve.

In Broken, Eve is the sole survivor of the Lady Killer. But, even though Eve survived his attack, she now has no memory of her life. She returns to her home on Dauphin Island — and to Fort Gaines — to try and uncover her past. She's accompanied on her quest by the sexy hero of the tale, Gabe Spencer. Gabe is a tough, ex-SEAL, and he is the man who created LOST (the Last Option Search Team). Gabe and his agents find the missing — they find the people that local authorities have given up hope of ever recovering. In Eve's case, she is the one missing. Her whole past is gone.

But don't worry, it won't stay lost to her forever.

Have you ever visited a place that instantly inspired you? Maybe a place that made you feel happy … or perhaps a place that gave you chills? I'd love to know about your experiences!

And thanks so much for checking out my post. It was a pleasure to talk with you about my inspiration.

Find out more about Cynthia and her books at www.cynthiaeden.com.