I love writers all across the board, but one who influenced me very directly at the beginning was Mary Renault.
I like films, or some films, and would be intrigued to see my work on screen.
Madness. I did not get myself born to die. I have better things to do.
I hate the way, once you start to know someone, care about them, their behavior can distress you, even when it's unreasonable and not your fault, even if you were really trying to be careful, tactful.
When I started as a writer, I knew nothing about publishing-nothing about anything!
As a child, my mother told me lots of fairy stories, many her own invention. She, too, tended to reverse the norm.