Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn’t around anymore?

Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn’t around anymore? Anyone you miss?

My biggest supporter, aside from my husband, is my longtime friend. And thankfully she’s still sticking around. So I’m grateful that I have those two, plus other family and friends who support me when I’m writing.

As far as anyone I miss that influenced my writing? I wouldn’t say necessary influenced my writing, but who I enjoyed immensely reading that are no longer with us would be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Michael Crichton. Sherlock Holmes was a favorite growing up. I’d spend hours sitting in the library reading those stories. And Michael Crichton had me at Case of Need and Andromeda Strain to start. I love science fiction, and I especially love the parts that a lot of readers hate: when Crichton dives deeper into the science.

Those I’d say are the two big ones, but again, I’m not sure how much they have influenced my writing. I could never hope to write as well as they have, never hope to be as detailed about solving a mystery or explaining the science. I think in the back of my mind I’d hear them saying…

Or possibly…

I’ve discussed this with other writers. They’ve tried to encourage me to write what I love. I love science fiction. But I stop there. I don’t believe I have the skill, or confidence, to truly pull off a good SciFi novel. So for now, I’ll stick to other authors such as Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, Kerry Nietz and Paul Regnier.