'Dangerous Dozen' authors share their writing inspirations

April 11, 2014

Joyce Lamb, author of Found Wanting
My very first influence was Sidney Sheldon. Yes, this was back in the ’80s. I got my first urge to write a book after finishing Rage of Angels. It did NOT have a happy ending, and I was not happy about it. I vowed then to write a book that WOULD have a happy ending. So take that, Mr. Sheldon. : )
Dean Koontz has also been a huge influence. His character development and dialogue especially have inspired me. My favorite Dean Koontz book is Lightning. I can read that book over and over again. Love the heroine who bounces back repeatedly and the theme that destiny always struggles to reassert itself. Chills.
And Nora Roberts, of course. It wasn’t until I read Hot Ice that I realized that what I was writing myself was romantic suspense. LOVED that book and consumed every book I could get my hands on after that to study how she does it. Amazingly, of course.

Read the full article @ USA Today.