I began writing after being inspired by Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The enormous amount of imagination put into the story of Frodo and One Ring absolutely floored me--from Tolkien, straight through to PJ and his cast and crew. They all made me believe like never before in the impact of stories in my life. I've since left the world of high fantasy behind in my reading and writing, but I still trust in the power of imagination and storytelling.
My current writing project began almost three years, when I realized nothing on the bookshelves interested me. I decided to write a story for myself and I looked at the things around me that I liked--music, history, film, YA fiction--and used them as a jumping off point. Elements of ghost stories, mysteries and a bit of romance squeezed their way in and before I knew it, I actually had a completed manuscript. I've spent much of the time since working through various drafts and rewrites, honing my skill and polishing the story.