The first short stories I wrote were Science Fiction. My early influences were Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clark and, with the exception of Robert E. Howard and C. L. Moore, I read very little fantasy. I didn't really find it interesting until the day a friend gave me a fantasy book to read, insisting I would be hooked. She was right. The book was by Roger Zelazny and the title was "Nine Princes in Amber" and it completely changed the way I looked at fantasy.

I didn't start reading Romances until recently. In fact, I secretely laughed at my two aunts who read romances until the day I picked up "Mistress of Mellyn" by Victoria Holt. Again I changed my mind, and today I write both. So I guess the morale to this story is "don't knock it until you've tried it."

I don't remember how I was introduced to fanfic but I do know why I write it. Inevitably, the writers on my favorite television series don't allow the characters to do what I want them to! Or the stories don't turn out as I'd like. Well, those writers have to sleep sometime, and when they do, I take over! And anyway, I understand my favorite character better than they do anyway, right? So why not? Yeah. Right.