I started devouring books as soon as I could read them, which was the second grade. I loved mysteries, which is probably why I now write them. My favorite series were the Trixie Belden and Judy Bolton novels, but I also read and loved the Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames (she as a nurse) books. I wrote stories, and even tried my hand at a novel in third grade, but didn't get very far.
I took a creative writing course in my senior year of high school, and allowed myself to be discouraged by the teacher. And so I gave up the idea of writing, though I continued to read,mainly the classics and more...