One of the reasons I write is to be in other people's skin.
Other writers definitely influence my writing. What encourages me and inspires me is when I read a good book. It makes me want to be a better writer. 
Although I always loved reading and putting words on paper, I never thought about becoming a writer until I was twelve. 
My biggest disappointment is that once I'm finished working on the characters, I really do expect to see them in the flesh one day. 
I hope the wonder of what happens to my characters never goes away. That yearning keeps me writing. 
Some people are just afraid of what's different. It doesn't mean different is bad. It just means different is different. 