What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love worlds.
I like creating them, and I like exploring them. Writing fiction allows me to do both at the same time.
By publishing my works, I don't just keep those worlds bottled up inside. Instead I get to share them with other people. Nothing is so exciting as that.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The earliest story I can remember reading is "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. As a kid, it was great. I loved all the different monsters in it.
I don't remember writing as a kid, but I did find some stories that I wrote then. Most of them featured monsters in some way. Usually having a character who was friends with one or more monsters. This was almost definitely inspired by the "Wild Things" in Sendak's book.
Monsters and other bizarre creatures continue to fascinate me today.
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