But when did you see her, talk to me? When did you see her go into the cave? Why did you threaten to strike a spirit? You still don't understand, do you? You acknowledged her, Broud, she has beaten you. You did everything you could to her, you even cursed her. She's dead, and still she won. She was a woman, and she had more courage than you, Broud, more determination, more self-control. She was more man than you are. Ayla should have been the son of my mate.

I can't tell you any more than any other writer can tell you why they write, and I don't know what my influences are.

The idea led me into the research, which continues to give me more ideas for the story.

Of the two, I would think of my work as closer to Science Fiction than Fantasy.

The other mammoths were as protective of the dying as they were of newborns, and they gathered around tying to make the fallen one get up. When all was over, they buried the dead ancestor under piles of dirt, grass, leaves, or snow. Mammoths were even known to bury other dead animals, including humans.

Each book has been different and has been challenging in its own way to write.

Life sometimes gets in the way of writing.