We need the expressive arts, the ancient scribes, the storytellers, the priests.
As a child, my mother told me lots of fairy stories, many her own invention. She, too, tended to reverse the norm.
I love writers all across the board, but one who influenced me very directly at the beginning was Mary Renault.
When I started as a writer, I knew nothing about publishing-nothing about anything!
It's lovely. I hate it.
When I am fascinated by something, I like to play with it.