I'm a very eclectic reader. History, military history, biography, novels, fantasy, science fiction, cereal boxes, you name it.

I believe if you want to write well, you have to read a lot.

My iPad. I was always a PC user, and a fan of printed books. Still am. But I got an iPad for Christmas a few years back, and I've learned to enjoy the convenience. I still don't read magazines on it, though; I tend to flip back and forth a lot when I read magazines, and that's still easier with print than an e-reader.

I can't say any, yet. I'm still figuring out the whole marketing thing.

Like my mind, it's cluttered with interesting things. A set of plaster imprints of my teeth, a small oil can, ammunition which I keep meaning to store properly, antique scissors long and sharp enough to be useful in a zombie apocalypse, a stack of other people's business cards, a joystick, a heap of papers and a few books open and face down. Lots of paper pads covered with illegible scribbled notes. A magnetic holder full of paper clips. A stapler. And a staple remover shaped like an alligator head.

Cape Cod. It didn't so much influence my current book, but the dunes and shallow seas are a definite factor in some of the writing I've got in progress.

About thirty five years ago.

Alternatively, about 5:30 this morning.

The original idea I'd been kicking around for decades; I wanted to explore the tendency of young women to fall for bad boys. Then I wondered what would happen if I changed the bad boy to a bad woman. Once I added the submission/domination aspect to their relationship, the over-the-top nature of Linda's lover became blindingly obvious.

I didn't so much write the characters as let them climb out of me onto the page.

I sent a query letter to a publisher that had imprints that I thought were a perfect fit for my book. Didn't even get a rejection letter. Being impatient, I wanted to get the book out there, give it a chance.

By giving me a venue. As far as long-term success, it's too early to tell. But there wouldn't even be a chance of long-term success without getting the book out into the public eye. That, Smashwords did; it gave the book a chance.

I get to dive right into my own little universe. I get to share my character's adventures, and I also get to play god, both torturing and rewarding them.

I'll let you know once I get some. It's a little early in my career, if this is going to be a career, to answer that.
I do hope people will enjoy the book; if they don't, I hope they'll at least be honest in their criticisms, so I can improve the sequel.

The sequel to my first work, and I have the very rough outline of a fantasy trilogy blocked out. I've also got a short story I'd like to publish.

I have so many; in no particular order: Novelist: Lee Child. Fantasy: C.J. Cherryh. Science fiction: Robert Frezza, tied with many others. Historical fiction: George Macdonald Fraser. Military History: Antony Beevor. History: Nathaniel Philbrick.

Apologies to all I've left out.

Writing and computer gaming. Spending time with friends.
Coffee.
And, the cat needs to be fed.

Reading, board and computer gaming, going to movies.
Even working my day job, when required.

Mostly through word of mouth. Sometimes a hard copy book from the library will inspire me to look for more of an author in electronic form.

Yes. With a childhood friend. It was more of a graphic novel really; mostly pictures, some text, describing this enormous siege of a castle.

I sit, I write. Same for fiction as for non-fiction.
I understand many authors use a more formal process; outlining, blocking out chapters, planning story arcs.
Luckily, or unluckily, for me, it's a more organic process. Less planning, more writing.
I like writing; going back and editing and cross-checking is necessary, but it's tediously painful for me.

I remember my mother reading The Hobbit to me at a very young age, but I don't recall it's specific impact. I've had a love of fantasy writing ever since, though, so I suppose it had an obvious effect.

I've only commissioned the one so far. I hunted around on the web, contacted artists I liked. I didn't want to sink a lot of money into the cover; I know a cover is important, but I'm also realistic about how much money the average book makes.

My first choice of artists was tied up for the next two years on graphic novel projects. Probably just as well; I imagine he's very expensive. At first I thought I was settling for the artist I ultimately went with, but after bouncing some ideas off each other, she came up with the basis for the current cover. A little more tweaking, and I'm very happy with the result.