I’ve always loved a good story. Although I had difficulty learning to read, being several grades behind for many years, that didn’t stop me from wanting novels like Moby Dick being read to me at the age of 7 (sorry mom). I also couldn’t get enough of fantasy series like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Once I could read by myself, I became enthralled with epics like the Iliad and the Ramayana. These became significant influences in my desire to create my own stories. I was also enchanted by biographies of historical explorers like Ibn Battuta. A special mention must go to Avatar: The Last Airbender, a TV series which serves as my personal bar of excellence and a story that I often refer to when sorting out problems in my own work. Most importantly, I am inspired to write the books I wanted to read as a child.
Cheers,
-Keenan