My name is Brian Cagayat, and I am a writer almost ready to turn 30. Born & raised in San Diego, Calif., I was influenced at an early age by Jack Kerouac and Jack London. Later on, I was influenced by the writing of Sam Shepard, Kurt Vonnegut, Salinger, and Hunter S. Thompson. Authoritative influences include my high school mentor, Robert Lunsford, of Morse High School (Calif.), who taught me so much in a three-year English program and assured me I would become a published novelist one day; my college film/literature professor, Dr. Thomas A. Nelson (San Diego State), whose brilliance compelled me to become a screenwriter; and, last but not least, my fifth-grade teacher, the late Tom Watts, who pushed me to write for the school newspaper even though I didn't initially want to (it was my first foray into creative writing, and I don't regret it one bit). Thanks also to all those individuals who have been so supportive of my writing.  

SDSU English Literature graduate 2001, cum laude; Golden Key International Honor Society alumnus; previously published in SV Magazine (2001 issue), “30 Minutes at Borders”

I have been working on my novel while working an office job.