Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in the Great Northwest, Washington in the United States. Much of my time was spent among the Cascade and Olympic mountains as my entire family were the outdoorsy type. I didn't spend all my time in the woods though. I found the lights and construct and bustle of Seattle oh so appealing. It was the largest city I knew of until adulthood. I remember hopping on a ferry as often as I could so I could walk the waterfront and venture uptown to the Seattle Center, maybe visit the Space Needle building. I think living in this area influenced my writing in a positive way because I often remember all the colors, sights, and smells-the overall feeling these two dichotomous settings of country and city. It now allows me some comfort with writing these settings into my stories. I feel the geography of my youth allows me to move effortlessly between rural and urban settings in my stories.
When did you first start writing?
I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing something, whether it be keeping a journal or simply jotting down ideas and sayings invading my mind. I suppose I started writing with purpose in Junior High School when I found that I could gain attention in writing little limericks, quips, short stories, or anything else deemed taboo at the time.
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