The books that inspired me as a teenager and still do to this day are the Chronicles of Morgaine by CJ Cherryh. Morgaine is a strong female character, that is incredibly forceful and determined. She felt more like Wuthering Heights Heathcliff—which was very unique to me since she is female. Her bondsman is Nhi Vanye who travels [...]

Several years ago I stumbled upon a book called Outlander written by Diana Gabaldon.  After receiving it in the mail, I gave the cover a quick glance over, and threw it aside.  I had no idea the tiny bit of treasure I had held in my hands.  After reading the first book, I was fully [...]

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud changed the way I think about storytelling. Addressing story structure, character and the development of an artist, McCloud challenged the way I think about creating a story and how to approach the mediums I work within. His style is easy to follow, using words and pictures to convey complex ideas [...]

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy When I was younger, I closed out the science fiction/fantasy shelves at both the library and the bookstore. (This was easier back then, when the genre was smaller.) Heinlein and Asimov made tremendous impressions on me. So did Brooks, Howard and, of course, Tolkien. But they all took themselves very seriously. [...]

I have always been a conscientious reader. I don’t just like a book, I figure out WHY I like the book. So when people ask what inspired me, I don’t even have to think about it. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Nabokov can give you a glimpse into a character with a simple turn of phrase. [...]

Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams was probably (to the best of my memory) the first time I had ever read something in the fantasy genre. It's been decades, but I always think back fondly on that book for lighting the reading spark inside of me. Tad Williams has remained one of my favorite authors to [...]

The book that made the greatest creative impact on me was the 1983 “Choose Your Own Adventure” book called Escape. It was written by R.A. Montgomery, one of the two undisputed maestros of the CYOA format. (The other master was Edward Packard.) I was a reluctant reader as a child, save for those CYOA books. [...]

One Writer’s Inspiration By Tee Morris Looking back on my adolescence in Richmond, Virginia, my circle of friends appears less like a circle and resembles more of a globe. I kept with an eclectic company of people. Most of them, though, nurtured a shared love for music and science fiction. Two great tastes that, for [...]

Celebrating My Story Father On World Book Night World Book Night is a celebration of the love of books and reading. I'm pleased to see some of my favorite authors in the official list of thirty titles selected by the publishers, booksellers and distributors on the board of directors and advisory council... authors like Sherman [...]

Throughout the day today in honor of World Book and Copyright Day and its associated event World Book Night we will be having a series of guest blog posts from authors, artists and others on the topic of a book that inspired them in their creative efforts. Those you will be hearing from today are: [...]