My background is in Digital Entertainment and Game Design. I am an avid 3D artist and familiar face at developer conventions and seminars. As a self-taught writer, my influences came from a dizzying array of sources. An over-active imagination and desire to customize everything I absorb fed vast childhood fantasies and allowed me to perfect world-building at a young age. From there, avid reading gave me access to many concepts and new ideas. When I began to write seriously, I started by copying the styles of my favorite authors. By blending the techniques of several different writers and adding my own unique flares, I was able to create a unique and interesting writing style. It’s certainly obvious from in-jokes and subtle references that Star Trek had a profound influence on my work. Though if anything, Gene Rodenberry’s work served more as a guideline for what to avoid. I’d watch the shows and question the science, then begin to think about how my characters would approach the same problems. Other science fiction writers like Mike Webber and Orson Scott Card taught me how to take a more realistic approach to the science-aspect of the genre. My own curiosity and natural problem-solving led me to research everything and ensure that my concepts were at least not in violation of any major physical laws. I have respect for many, many fine authors, from whom I learned my style.