My first and most inspirational influence is Stephen King. He's beyond a horror writer; he knows the human psyche ridiculously well. That's how he can scare the bejesus out of someone and at the same time allow you into the hearts and minds of his characters. I also admire Alice Seabold for her strength and for her ability to write non-fiction/memoir and fiction with the same amount of passion. Ray Bradbury, Simon Clark, Richard Laymon and Shakespeare all are favorites and influences.

Aside from writing, I also teach cemetery art classes and have been a featured speaker at a number of genealogical and historical societies.

Epitaphs Magazine is an independent quarterly publication for cemetery lovers by cemetery lovers. Our second issue was released in March 2006. "Cemetery Walk" features interviews with cemetery sextons, gravediggers, a Voodoo priestess from New Orleans, cemetery preservationists and enthusiasts, as well as artist Madame Talbot, architectual photographer Douglas Keister, and British horror author Simon Clark.

TheCemeteryClub.com
A great site for cemetery fans with lots of information and links. It is also the home base for Epitaphs Magazine and the non-fiction book "Cemetery Walk: A Journey into the Art, History and Society of the Cemetery and Beyond."