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So I'm writing an Urban Fantasy, but need some help

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Zioneer:
I'm writing an urban fantasy novel inspired by (but definitely distinct from) the Dresden Files. The main difference is that I won't have vampire or faerie courts, my main character will not be a freelance sort of magic-user like Harry Dresden starts off as, and my main setting will be the American Southwest, with an emphasis on Utah.

And therein lies my problem. I've been a resident of Utah for most of my life (I'm 20, and have been here almost 15 years), but besides being of the majority faith, I never really got into the culture, specifically the supernatural culture of Utah and the Southwest. I've searched on the Internet, but I can't find good ideas for monsters and supernatural ideas from the Southwest. I'd like some help if anyone's familiar with that area. I have Coyote (the Native American deity) involved, and the Transcontinental railroad/golden spike (don't ask), but I can't think of much else.

The Deposed King:

--- Quote from: Zioneer on November 09, 2013, 07:50:52 AM ---I'm writing an urban fantasy novel inspired by (but definitely distinct from) the Dresden Files. The main difference is that I won't have vampire or faerie courts, my main character will not be a freelance sort of magic-user like Harry Dresden starts off as, and my main setting will be the American Southwest, with an emphasis on Utah.

And therein lies my problem. I've been a resident of Utah for most of my life (I'm 20, and have been here almost 15 years), but besides being of the majority faith, I never really got into the culture, specifically the supernatural culture of Utah and the Southwest. I've searched on the Internet, but I can't find good ideas for monsters and supernatural ideas from the Southwest. I'd like some help if anyone's familiar with that area. I have Coyote (the Native American deity) involved, and the Transcontinental railroad/golden spike (don't ask), but I can't think of much else.

--- End quote ---

Does the Cupacabra get out there much?  Then there are Skinwalkers, evil Bruha's and all kinds of imported Arabian myths that got imported over there along with the Ibex.  Which has been saved from extinction by big game hunters looking for the thrill of the hunt and eventually the herds grew large enough to wander off the hunting reserve.



The Deposed King

Wordmaker:
A massive amount of American folklore, with the exception of any Native American legends, comes from the folklore of the European settlers who travelled there. One of the great things about writing urban fantasy set in the US is that you can draw on any culture's myths and legends for inspiration.

If you want to take inspiration from the Church of Latter-Day Saints, you've got all kinds of Biblical lore to work with. After all, if Jesus came here, what else might have followed him?

Quantus:

--- Quote from: Wordmaker on November 11, 2013, 02:05:11 PM --- After all, if Jesus came here, what else might have followed him?

--- End quote ---
Thats a very intriguing idea.

The Deposed King:

--- Quote from: Quantus on November 11, 2013, 03:01:09 PM ---Thats a very intriguing idea.

--- End quote ---

I wonder how you'd execute that?  King Noah as a wraith perhaps or Lamen and Lemuel, guys who saw angels multiple times and still turned away because of jealousy over their younger brother, only to be cursed and all their children cursed with dark skin come back as some kind of baddie.  As well as a whole host of jewish demons and uglies who (logically for our magical) followed them over from israel?  Not sure.

In the Iron Druid series 'belief' in folklore and folk tales brought them to life, so I suppose if we're using that kind of paradigm a lot of things are possible, up to and including the Stake Puft marshmallow man of Ghostbusters.  ;)



The Deposed King

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