WRITING: I've always loved reading, but the first time I became really passionate about a book was when I read John Bellairs' "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" in, oh, third grade or so. Bellairs inspired my fi (...)

What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

Whohub

I've always loved reading, but the first time I became really passionate about a book was when I read John Bellairs' "The Curse of the Blue Figurine" in, oh, third grade or so. Bellairs inspired my first timid steps into fantasy writing--and by "timid," I mean plans for a massive trilogy that would have taken several hundred thousand words to wrap up from where I fortunately abandoned it. My sister was my first reader and my first editor, and I can't say for certain how far my readership has expanded since then. No matter the quantity, I'm not sure they can equal her quality. She knows when I'm trying too hard.