What inspires a writer to want to write?

For some it is a deep need to put thoughts onto paper. It is an obsession that will not let them go and without the opportunity to write every day, they are restless. For others it is an idea that comes to them, that will not go away, that demands to be written. For others, it is because of a book they have recently read and enjoyed, that has left an impression. The thought comes "I could write like that". That's what happened for me.

When I was young, I loved the books in series. 'Famous Five', 'Secret Seven', 'Swallows and Amazons'. Later I moved on to Science Fiction, and as an adult I read almost anything. But I still enjoy series, and have read every Patricia Cornwall book, following her characters through their lives. There is something very satisfying about knowing you can meet these characters again and again.

The writer who had the strongest influence on my writing style was Dick Francis. He wrote many books based around the horse racing industry. I don't even like horse racing, but I love his heroes, the mysteries they were involved in, and his gentle writing style. His books were my true inspiration.