Pirates have always fascinated me.

When I am fascinated by something, I like to play with it.

People are always the start for me... animals, when I can get into their heads, gods, supernatural beings, immortals, the dead... these are all people to me.

Sounds always fascinated me.

The other writer who had a very important early influence on me when I was about 17 was C.S. Lewis.

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