I grew up in a book house. My father used to take me to Waldenbooks, and we would sit in the aisles and read together. Throughout my socially awkward life, books have been my constant companion and guide. They are the ultimate escapism for me. I loved the Wizard of Oz series, Alice in Wonderland, The Ear, The Eye and the Arm, The Cay, and Lord of the Flies just to name a few. I loved Shakespeare. I love how he can tell a story and perfectly balance plot, humor and characters. It is amazing. My favorite play is Much Ado About Nothing. Around the third or forth grade I began to write short stories and poetry. Even then, the stories I told were mostly science fiction with elements of romance. This genre continues to inspire me today.