I began writing in high school, but being dyslexic held me back for a long time. Especially since I didn't know I was dyslexic until I was in my 40's.
Major influences came first from Stephen King. I wanted to be the female version. But that didn't happen.
Mainly I was big into vampires. Back then it wasn't "cool" to be into vampires like it is now. I watched all the older horror flicks, and when some writer came out with something about vampires, I sampled it. Didn't like Anne Rice, though. I don't like literary fiction.