I have always been a reader...was fortunate to grow up in a home filled with books to which I had free access as soon as I was able to read. Book banning, history white-washing, censureship are abhorrent to me. The authors who influenced me early on and most defined my taste were Alexander Dumas (père), Karl May, Jules Verne, Dostojewski, Theodor Storm, Margaret Mitchell, Sergeann Golon, Mary Stewart, Jane Aiken-Hodge, and other great romantic suspense and adventure writers. Not to forget the magic of movies...Captain Nemo and Prince Valiant...et c.