Who Is YOUR Idol? How has he or she influenced you?

Mary Shelley. She gave birth to the horror genre, forever changing storytelling in all media. She also broke down the notion that a woman couldn't tell an entertaining story. I love the voice she writes in for Frankenstein, and it's always been a favorite book of mine. I don't write a lot of scary stuff, and I dare not compare myself to her, Matheson, or any of the legends of the genre, but when I do want to scare a reader, I try to catch their chilling dialogue and intricate stories rather than rely on grotesque descriptions to scare someone.

Shakespeare is my writing idol. He got me really interested in reading, which is the best way to become a good writer. You need to learn from the experts. I think he has influenced me in that I like to explore the human condition in all its complexity, whatever I happen to be writing about. I'd say Shakespeare has helped me to develop my analytical skills, and he's certainly augmented my vocabulary.