The question of what made me decide to be a writer is always a difficult one for me because I've always been a person who told stories. Some of my earliest memories involve making up characters and even entire worlds. So, I usually say it was inevitable that I would become a writer.

 

But that's not really an answer, is it?

 

The reason I so frequently avoid that question is because the event that precipitated my ultimate decision to become a writer was the death of my brother. We spent much of our early childhoods telling each other stories. It was one of the things we did when it was just us. For just us. He was wildly creative and always amazed me. Later we bonded over stories we both adored. So many of the works that are important to who I am are because of him and his generosity. He not only loved to create stories, but he loved to share them.

 

So now I tell you the stories I might have told him. I hope you enjoy them.