The greatest joy for me in writing is in creating something from a simple idea and watching it flourish and grow through the writing process. This is something I'm in love with. It doesn't require large sums of money or knowing certain people or being born any special place in particular.

It amazes me how simple words on a page can take on a life of their own and literally brings one out of their surrounding into another reality. Despite what and how you were feeling just moments before a good story and the power of a word can do that.

As a teenage and in my early twenties Stephen King was my favorite author. I wanted to be like Stephen King and move people emotions like he did. As I've grown older and pondered on some of the books i've enjoyed that have influenced me the most in my writing my favorites begin to take on different universe entirely.

William Shakespeare was someone a love in school and still do today. If I walk around an speak like the characters do in a Shakespeare book then I would be content.

George Orwell influenced me to reach for themes and social issues in a broader context.
Ben Okri who won the Booker prize in 1991 whose work blew my mind with the sheer poetic nature.

There are a few others I'm sure and possibly many more when I get to reading the ones I haven't gotten yet.

The appreciating of life and the possibility I might simple disappear into the mattress.

Getting out of bed, some days can become difficult but the calling of undone projects and the sweet exquisite prick of the sunshine always beckons me upward.

I produce my own music. I'm always doing something creative which sometimes may feel like a blessing or a curse because my creativity is always on. From visually creating graphic design pieces to writing.

Other times I find myself sheepishly addicted to reality shows and wonder where all my precious time went.

Yes. Many many moons ago in the third grade I wrote a story about the TV show cartoon, Grape Ape complete with a picture of the ape riding inside a car much too small for him. I'm not sure if my teacher understood got it.

The other short story that comes to mind was about two lions that were in love in my grade 10 class. My teacher enjoyed it so much she decided to read it to the class. That might have been the first time I actually thought I could be a writer.

Write till your fingers cramp up. Kidding.

I've found the best way for me is to put some thought into idea and concept before I begin writing. Ask myself how I feel about what I'm writing and do most of the mental work before I even put a word on the page.
Many times when I get a rush of ideas and emotion I'll feel a boost of adrenalin and pour out a few hundred words. But this doesn't always last that long.

Good writing needs to percolate and marinate. Unfortunately we want to see progress to soon with out the process.

I've worked as a graphic artist so my approach to a cover is always with a discerning eye. But I try not to over think the look because concept is more important than anything else.
Does the look or idea convey what I want to say. I'm not in the business of showing my graphic design skills or what new tools I just learned in Photoshop and Illustrator if it just muddles the message.

Simplicity and color say so much.