Robert E. Howard -- Conan the Adventurer was the first book I read not directly approved by my parents, school or church.

J.R.R. Tolkien -- nuff said.

H.P. Lovecraft -- how can you not respond to the excessive uses of words such as "blasphemous" and "cyclopean." His characters and dialogue may be flat but he is still the master of atmosphere.

Stephen King -- proved to me that you can give the audience what it wants and still be true to your artistic tastes and vision.

Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo -- not writers, but seeing their fantasy art at age 16 started me on the road that led to writing my first novel.

The Poetic Edda and Icelandic Sagas.