Thank you to the folks who continue to add "Brier Wood" and myself to their favorites and communities!

The question "Who inspires your work?" was posed to me not too long ago and, at the time, I didn't really have an answer. After chewing it over for awhile, I find I still don't. It's actually a harder question to answer than it really should be, falling along the lines of favorite movie(s) or band(s). There is no one author/person who inspired me to start writing - I just sat down and started doing it one day - or who inspires what I am currently writing. I find inspiration everywhere.

Everywhere? Really? That's my answer?

How lame, right?!

I'm not really sure how else to answer, though. Anything from a line in a movie/song to a clever ad for top-shelf whiskey will make the Muse snap to attention. I am an avid reader so other authors and their work definitely inspire me. But anything can trip the creative switch at any given time. To tell the honest truth, I have this weird tendency to actually not read stories/novels in the same genre as whatever I'm currently working on. This stems from a fear that I'm going to inadvertently steal something.

So, I can't really say who inspires my work - or even what, really. Inspiration is just one of those things - it's everywhere, you just have keep an eye out for it.

I was also asked who are some of my favorite authors. Since I haven't really had the time recently between projects to read much around here, I'll give you some of my all-time favorite books.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. I highly recommend this book if you've never read it. Get past the flowery language, push aside the image of Jim Caviezel as Edmond, and you will know what I am talking about. It is the ultimate book on getting the ultimate revenge.

The Kushiel Series by Jacqueline Carey. This is who I wish I could be. I don't think The Sundering series is quite as good, but she's still one of the most brilliant authors I've ever read, hands down.

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund. The story of Marie Antoinette written in first person from the Dauphine's point of view. I always hope the author will change the end...

Deerskin by Robin McKinley. A dark fantasy based on the old French fairytale Donkeyskin.

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith. For all of you who are Twilight fans, stop reading this IMMEDIATELY! Because this series was the ORIGINAL Twilight, written nearly fifteen years before Meyer ever had her "dream." In truth, I have not read the Twilight series - nor will I ever. But I have passed The Vampire Diaries around to people who have and they were shocked and a bit appalled by the similarities and just down-right sameness they found between the two series. In fact, when the movie trailer for Twilight came out, I seriously thought it was a trailer for Smith's books. Twilight has been a very touchy subject with me every since. I recommend L.J. Smith's books even though they are YA fiction because, despite that, they are still some of the best vampire books I've ever read (And, yes, I will be buying the new novels in this series when they come out!).

I am currently working my way through House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. Even if you have no interest in this book, you should look for it the next time you're at your local bookstore and just flip through it. It is as much of a visual treat as it is an intriguing novel. The typography towards the middle/end is insane.

A Few Random Bits About Me:

My screen name is pronounced SeeYou-Kid and comes from the nickname for the town I live in.

Along with writing, I draw (scribble, really), play the piano and guitar. I'm trying to teach myself how to play the harmonica and would really love to learn to play the banjo (I'm originally from the south, can you tell? :) )

I own more books than is probably healthy.

I love to watch scary movies by myself in the dark. I have yet to find one that has creeped me out as much as Event Horizon did.

Hm...I think that's about it. Questions? Comments? Concerns? E-mail or IM me! I always come off as so lame when I write these profile things, but I'm actually pretty friendly (a bit dorky, maybe) and don't bite (not usually, anyway...).

Someone asked awhile ago if I would post pictures of the characters from "Brier Wood." I hadn't planned to, but a spark of inspiration hit me and I just couldn't help myself. A sketch of Fallon can be found here: Fallon Hirschfeld . Enjoy!