The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

One of the biggest inspirations for the little dolls that I make, came from reading The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. If you haven't read it, I don't want to give too much away, but essentially the story is about a living baby boy who is given sanctuary within the walls of a graveyard after the tragic death of his family. He is adopted and raised by a ghost couple, and provided protection by the cemetery's deceased (and undead) inhabitants because his life is in danger from an outside threat.

I absolutely loved the premise of this novel, and the originality of the graveyard being a little island  of security amidst a larger world filled with peril and horror really appealed to me. The imagery of the child (named "Nobody" by the spirits) playing amongst the tombstones with the ghosts of long-dead children, resonated with me as well. It was literally the moment after finishing the book that the idea for a doll popped into my head.

Like Coraline, The Graveyard Book is one of Neil Gaiman's children's novels, but it can definitely be enjoyed by adults, and in fact, the opening scene might even be regarded as too frightening for some children.