Across the board, from my mother to my father to my aunts and uncles, everybody has always given me a lot of love.

Our house was always full of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins.

I call on those that call me son,Grandson, or great-grandson,On uncles, aunts, great-uncles or great-aunts,To judge what I have done.Have I, that put it into words,Spoilt what old loins have sent?

I love writers all across the board, but one who influenced me very directly at the beginning was Mary Renault.

My aunts told wonderful stories. Not to me, but to each other. We had a very strong family. My mother's sisters loved each other intensely. The uncles loved each other intensely.

My father was strict, but he recognised my ability and got a lot of flak from the church for supporting me.