DEAD GAME is the second book in the EMILY STONE THRILLER SERIES. It revolves around a high-tech serial killer that hunts for his victims through an interactive video spy game. 
There were many photo inspirations that helped me to write this particular story.
I’m a very visual person. When I create a story, the characters and events play through my mind like a movie and continue to do so as I’m writing each chapter of the book. Sometimes I imagine myself sitting in an empty movie theater watching my story unfold. At times, I rewind and edit with my imagination until the end result is satisfactory to me. Inspiration can strike at any time from various places, objects, structures, people, and often leave a lasting impression.
I enjoy photography and I usually have at least camera with me at all times. There’s nothing worse than not having a camera or cell phone to snap a great shot. Sometimes I’ll see something specific that strikes a writing chord with me that I think would be a perfect part of a story. 
It can be an old building, a deserted beach, or even a group of people getting ready for a sailboat race. Whatever I see can inspire bits and pieces that eventually become integrated into my books.
I wanted to share some of the photographs I took that inspired me to write the opening sequences to DEAD GAME. 
There are no spoilers. I won’t give anything away, but rather, I wanted to share actual places that I photographed and were eventually incorporated into the beginning of the story. You can read this first several chapters of DEAD GAME on Amazon.
I had been at the beach one Sunday afternoon walking my dogs and the fog rolled in. This isn’t unusual, but it became so thick that I could barely see the harbor or make out the outlines of the boats. 
It hit me. I thought about what it would mean for EMILY STONE to search for an abducted child on one of the boats and how she would attempt this difficult feat. My imagination began to roll. I try to find a location or structure that would provoke questions. Who lives there? What would happen if a killer had a victim held there? How would EMILY STONE rescue a child? What are some of the obstacles she would face? What if something went wrong?
I like overcast days that cast an eerie feeling. The opening sequence pits EMILY STONE on the harrowing mission of rescuing an abducted child held on one of the boats. She faces a few unusual obstacles when she decides to take the water route and swim to the location. I wanted to put myself in her shoes, creatively that is, and write a sequence that evokes the imagination and senses. Something that strikes a memory, fear, or even a deep felt emotion.
Sometimes I take a photo of a particular place and I don’t really know, if or when, I would incorporate it into a story. I like settings and places that could tell many stories. These are some of my writing inspirations for DEAD GAME. I hope you enjoy.
What inspires you?
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Author Jennifer Chase 