Well, I think the very first story I wrote was in kindergarten when he had a 'write and illustrate a book project.' I recall writing a story about a very bad day, which included getting sick (illustrated with a stick person with a chicken-pox like red speckled face) and slipping and falling on ice. If I remember correctly, the twist ending was that it was all a nightmare.

Maggie Stiefvater, Lemony Snicket, Gillian Flynn, Rainbow Rowell, S.E. Hinton, and David Levithan... to name a few.

Completing a story. I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment even if it a rough, rough draft.

Anything and everything! I consider myself an equal opportunity reader. By that I mean I will read and/or enjoy a story in any medium or genre it comes packaged as. I love children's, young adult, and adult with strong stories and great characterization. While I prefer prose, I'll occasionally pick up graphic novels.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (This is the book that inspired me to want to write original fiction; It was the book that connected with me and moved me in the way people talk about great literature doing.)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (This book reaffirmed my belief in powerful literature. It also contains some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read.)

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (What a powerful book with a powerful message -- that survival is insufficient. This is the kind of genre-blending that I aspire too.)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (A chilling thriller with a wonderfully devious female lead and they greatest unreliable narrator twist.)

All The Other Ghosts by Rainjoy (Technically a fanfiction, but it is than sufficiently novel length and better written -- in both prose and narrative -- than many novels I've read. One of the greatest, most original superhero story in existence.)

I first started writing 8th grade. I'll admit to starting with fanfiction, and storytelling grew into a passion. I started delving into original fiction sometime in high school.

I don't write at my desk. The joy of having a laptop is the mobility of it, so the world is my desk!

Dean Welsey Smith and his blogging and books about how indie is the way to go in the current market.

Reading, watching a good TV show, jogging, spending time with family/friends, working as a librarian. I have a low key life.

I'm working on many things. I just published my author website, and am working on publishing all of my short stories as ebooks that have been published in literary magazines previously. I'm writing more short stories and working on a novel as well.