Without a doubt, David Eddings. He seems to be a dividing factor among both readers and writers, but I've always idolized his writing style and tried to emulate it. Other favorites who have had some influence on me are Piers Anthony, Margaret Weise, Tracy Hickman, Terry Brooks, and Sergei Lukyanenko.

Oh my gosh, what an unfair question... What I list here is just what's at the top of my head at the moment.

"The Belgariad" by David Eddings. I know that's a series and not a book, but I can't choose one book out of the series. This is the series that inspired my style of writing and my world-building skills.

"Hyperion" by Dan Simmons. This book is just so amazing and diverse, using "The Canterbury Tales" as a template for a sci-fi tale, and it sets the stage for an amazing series.

"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" by Douglas Adams. I wanted to go with a series again instead of one book, but really, of the series this was my favorite book. My uncle had it on tape and I listened to it over and over again so much that I memorized it and can still quote it word for word to this day. It also inspired much of my humorous attempts at writing.

"Seize the Night" by Dean Koontz. Koontz novels are a guilty pleasure for me and are kind of my literary version of McDonald's - I get a craving for something that is quick, tasty, but not necessarily full of nutritional value. This is my favorite book of his because it blends a good amount of humor, banter, weird happenings, and overall page-turning craziness.

"Sometimes the Magic Works" by Terry Brooks. It's part book on writing, part autobiography, part inspirational book. It had such a big impact on me that I hand wrote a thank you letter to Terry Brooks (which he answered!) and I try to read it often, even though I know it forwards and backwards by this point.

The first story I ever wrote to completion was a Christmas gift to my uncle about how he saved Christmas when Santa Claus couldn't finish his job (and this was before "The Santa Clause" was released). It involved a shrink ray so that he could down the chimney and other gadgets that helped him in his adventure.

I first started seriously writing in eighth grade. I began hand-writing a fantasy story (which I still have) about a world split in half, one side dominated by magic, the other by technology. There was also a time-traveling dragon. It was pretty awful, but I took aspects of it and used it for my first full novel (which was also awful and will never be published).

I don't remember the absolute first story I ever read, no, but I remember the one that did have a large impact on me. That was "A Spell for Chameleon" by Piers Anthony, and I read it when I was probably too young to be reading it (in and around 4th or 5th grade). My uncle gave it me to read and I was so enamored by the fantastical world that was created and the engaging story that I knew that I wanted to write stories like that.

Other than my wife and son, it's knowing that I have another project to work on, whether it's my writing, my webcomic, an art piece, or a batch of homebrew. Also, coffee.

My "process" is so scattered due to my chaotic life that it's not much of a process. Basically, I get an idea for a story, make notes/outlines/whatever to somewhat organize myself, and then I write it; however, all of those steps are in pieces over a long period of time.

It's based on my nearly ten-years-old webcomic, Bardsworth. It's about a young man named Mike who finds a door in the back of his closet that leads to another world. In that world there is a college called Bardsworth University that teaches magic. Thinking it would be fun, Mike enrolls, but soon finds himself among magical pranksters, overly energetic bards, and - unbeknownst to him - a mysterious figure who watches from the shadows. Also, girls.

My next writing endeavor will be to complete the second book in the "Godblood Chronicles" series. Beyond that, it'll either be the next "Bardsworth University" book or the beginning of a sci-fi series that I want to try writing.

The short answer is that I'm control freak when it comes to my creative projects. I got my toes wet by doing a webcomic for so long, which is all independent work, so I figured I'd extend that to my writing as well. While I respect the steps involved with traditional publishing, I didn't want to have to deal with it.

My fans mean everything to me. Without them, I'd just be writing for myself, and it's more fun to share the stories that come to me with other people.

I like to read, play old video games, and homebrew.

My greatest joy in writing is getting the crazy images out of my head and putting them on paper (or epaper) for other people to enjoy.

Typically word of mouth, but I used to love walking into a used book store and pulling a bunch of books that I had never heard of, but was intrigued by the back cover blurbs. These days I don't buy many books because I'm too busy writing, but it's usually the same way - someone suggests something or I'll just browse until I find something intriguing.

A number of things. Fantasy novels if I get a chance. Comic books and webcomics. Articles and tutorials on homebrewing. Autobiographies of comedians. Basically, if it interests me, I'll read it.