What inspired you to write?
For me, that's a little like asking what inspired a bird to fly, or what inspired a fish to swim. I am a writer; writing is what I do. I feel a strong urge to write each and every day, and I've had this urge as long as I can remember. This urge is different from "inspiration," I think. To me, inspiration is a kind of high, and like most highs--whether naturally or artificially induced--it wears off pretty fast.
Inspiration might get me started on a book, but I could never actually finish a whole novel, which takes months or years, fueled by inspiration alone. I would never get through that difficult middle part of the story, where, as the author, you have to struggle with the thorniest story issues.
Did your family play a role in the development of your literary skills?
Definitely. My mother is also a writer. Some of my earliest memories are the sound of her tapping away on a typewriter, writing short stories and other pieces. In fact, the sound of someone clicking away on a keyboard in the next room is very comforting to me. Maybe I caught the desire to be a writer through some sort of osmosis, or it's in the genes, I don't know.
My family, as well as my wife and her family, have always been very supportive of my writing. They have grown along with me in their supportive roles, too. My wife has learned to be a fantastic developmental editor and her mother, who is a retired journalist, also helps a lot with both the overall shaping of my books and marketing.
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