Read anything and everything to keep those creative portals open! I don't believe you can be a writer unless you're also a reader, because mastery of the written word endures beyond any kind of literary fashion.
As a child, I was enthralled by KIpling, Mark Twain and Richmal Crompton's wonderful "Just William" series, all of which expanded my vocabulary greatly, before moving on to the Sci-fi greats, PG Wodehouse, and the anarchic genius that was 'Mad' magazine.
Student days were dominated by British writers (well I was studying English Literature) such as JRR Tolkien, H.E. Bates, humorist Alan Coren, and the ghost-stories of MR James along with the fabulous 'Modesty Blaise' books, and middle-age brought the legend that is Sir Terry Pratchett and his Discworld novels (my biggest comic-fantasy influence.) I also devour the crime-genre: gritty (Sue Grafton) is good, gory (Jeff Lindsey's 'Dexter') is an excellent read, but a touch of humour, a la Janet Evanovitch, is even better.
There can never be enough time to read all that's out there, or to write down everything that's in your head, but I am giving it my best shot. Thanks, Mum and Dad, for all those spell-binding bedtime stories that started me off on my chosen path.
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