Writing is a compulsion and I should really seek treatment. But, as I enjoy the whole process (apart from marketing, rejections, typos, synopsis hell and query letter doubts, of course) I'll keep at it. My first positive influence, apart from my adoring mother, was a sexy English teacher called Stella who encouraged me to write, but mostly to read. Since we had no TV at the time, I read the entire contents of the library in my home town (Hessle) and have continued to read all my life. Authors I have enjoyed are various and diverse; Graham Green, John Fowles, William Horwood, William G more...
