I remember reading an excerpt from Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine at a very young age. The story talked about a new pair of sneakers at the start of Summer being absolute magic with their potential, and it sparked something within me that continues to today.

Long ago, I read about the legend of the Wendigo, and it's such a powerful and disturbing idea, I've never let go of it. Wrote a bad version of the book a long time ago, but wasn't good enough to make the book a good one. Last year, the idea for making it work came to me, and it's now coming to fruition.

Making characters come alive, and telling stories that matter. And when people tell me something I've written touched them, it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Several years ago, I'd proved my writing was good enough and commercial enough to sell. Had an agent, who got an acquisitons editor interested. But too many months went by with no forward motion. Tried submitting directly to publishers after that, and discovered they don't even bother to respond. Was researching success stories of the New World of Publishing, and of how people could make a go of it outside the traditional big NY pub path. And the concept of having control over the process, and not being subject to the whims and bad decisions of others was intoxicating. So I changed direction of a path I had pursued for years, and it's been great!

Like Stephen King, in rural Maine, and the solitude and self-reliance were major factors in my life choices. I had lots of time for reading, and devoured everything I could get my hands on, so I have a tremendous literary background, the kind necessary for a writer.

The fact that I can create new worlds that have meaning for others, and that I'm one step closer to making a living doing this full-time.

I discuss the book theme with my designer, and any concepts I may have. She takes it from there, and always comes up with a winner.

The story determines what type of genre it must be. I had a story, and it evolved into one book, and then a series.

Have multiple projects, and work on something else. Sure, you can get temporarily blocked on one thing, so have more going for you.

So many- check my website for writers I admire. I write in different genres, because I've had so many influences. I'm spurred on by writers who tell a good story well.
For mysteries: the line from Dashiel Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, John D. MacDonald, Robert B. Parker, James Lee Burke.
Stories: Poe, de Maupassant, Saki, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Stephen King
and in general: Hemingway, Victor Hugo, Thomas Wolfe (both of them), Robert Heinlein, Harper Lee, on and on...

In every way possible: TV, radio, newspapers, blogs, social media, public appearances, library talks. My favorite is personal appearances, where I can interact with people.