Very difficult as my tastes are eclectic, I've been an avid reader since the age of 12 and I've probably forgotten 70% of what I've read but, for now, here goes a VERY brief list that I remember as of now:
Stendahl, Dostoyevky, Tolstoy, Henry Fielding, John Barth, John Irving, JRR Tolkien, EL Doctorow, J.P. Donleavy, Carl Hiaason, Stieg Larsson, James Elroy, Elmore Leonard, Tom Robbins, Daniel Silva, John Grisham, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Robert Ludlum, Evelyn Waugh, Günter Grass, Mario Puzo, Kazantzakis, Aaron Sorkin,

Having worked at almost every position on a movie set, I pretty much know what's required of every technician in the production of movies, television, videos and documentaries

I was discussing with my children several movies and how I thought a few specific scenes were accomplished. My kids said, "you know so much about production, why don't you write a book or teach a class?" I then taught several classes in how 'movie magic,' i.e. special effects and action scenes could be directed/produced. This led to my writing this book to incorporate my inside knowledge of making movies, television and videos and incorporate some 'tips and tricks' about how to deal with the politics of working in the studio system of Hollywood.

Stendahl's The Red and the Black - because it's such a romantic love story and compelling female character.
Tom Robbins' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - because Sissy Hankshaw is such a powerful, loveable iconoclast.
John Irving's The World according to Garp - because the words flow and the strains of humor and pathos are so strong.
James Elroy's's American Tabloid - because it's such a believable look at the turbulent predecessors of the J and RFK assassinations.
tied with E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime for the same reason and because it's such a ground-breaking view of racism.
John Barth's The Sot Weed Factor - because it's such a rollicking entwicklund roman

I am currently writing my next speculative tv pilot based upon a mock trailer that I made with a friend who is an incredible graphic artist. In addition, I am attempting to secure financing for a heist comedy screenplay that I developed with a Canadian writer

I was raised in Cheyenne Wyoming. The small town familiarity with so many families and the 'maverick' mentality of the Wild West influenced my desire to write about iconoclastic themes and characters.

The greatest joy of writing, for me, is solving story logic, character arcs and decent dialogue in screenplays. All of these I'd put into the category of wrestling with ideas that need to be communicated well.

Everything. In my books, in my movies and in my music videos.

I will have lived another day to be loved by my loved ones, to create something no matter how small and to learn something new

Thrillers, espionage, murder mysteries and biographies

When I was 12.