As a teacher, coach, and drama director I always thought my book would be about track and field or acting for young people.  I  never got to write that book because of the first and second jobs.  Then, there were two sons to teach, coach, and direct.  I left teaching and Vermont for various jobs on Cape Cod, which was a very good place to fish, golf, and work for the Postal Service. Though I was a jock, I read a lot.  My favorites back then were Vonnegut, Wambaugh, Ross McDonald.  Though I wrote for school newspapers in High School and college, my post graduate typing was limited to letters to editors, management, and family.  I did adapt, produce, and direct a Russian folk tale for the stage.  In retirement I play a lot of golf.  In between rounds I read a lot of mysteries.  Among my favorites are William G. Tappley, Stuart Woods, and Tony Hillerman.  I do not claim my writing style to be like any authors I may have been influenced by.  I would say I write in the style that I speak, which is tersely.  From me you will likely get a short answer to your question.  To me effectively concise is better than unnecessary words.   My first book, Willowtree (a fictitious Arizona town) A Bruce DelReno Mystery, is of course about a retired mailman who plays a lot of golf.   To quote Vonnegut, "and so it goes."