I always loved books like 'Where the Wild Things Are', Shel Silverstein, etc. But I didn't really start reading for fun - beyond a few books here or there, or ones I had to read for school - until I was in college.

I usually have an image in mind that captures not only the setting of the story, but the mood or tone of the piece itself. I don't get too fancy or use Photoshop to design something too fresh. It's more a minimalist approach.

The Great Gatsby is my favorite book to re-read. Not only is the language beautiful and lyrical, but the economy of words as well. I don't think people really register how short of a book it actually is, and yet the story is layered with symbolism, and character, and back story. It's quite rich in very few, but beautiful words.

I love Denis Johnson's Train Dreams and Jesus' Son for that same reason.

Anything that I can squeeze in! I love non-fiction and fiction alike. I read the New Yorker, a lot of presidential biographies, some modern philosophy, books of music criticism, as well as fiction that I come across in interviews, articles, podcasts, etc. that sound interesting from publications or people I trust.

Kindle Fire. I won it at a conference raffle. Otherwise, I would stick to hard copies.

Uploading on Smashwords, getting an ISBN and that's about it. I don't market myself or my work much at all. I mainly do it for fun.

It's a mid-century modern desk by the window.