What made you choose the genre in which you write?

What Makes Me Write These Stories?

I sometimes wonder what ever drew me to write historical/time travels and fantasy stories. Was it something in my childhood? Stories my parents may have read to me that just stuck in my brain? I do recall a chapter being read to us every night from a book called Finn MacCole And His Warrior Band. It was an exciting adventure book that included battles with bore-toothed, one-eyed creatures and sightings of illusive mermaids. There just had to be a witch or two and some other rather exciting evil characters. Was this where I first began to think about fantasy and paranormal stories?

I've always been intrigued by the idea of going back in time and meeting characters famous or ordinary from a previous time. What was it like back then? What did people do for fun? How did they stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer? What were the expectations parents had of children or those women had of men and visa versa? I am especially drawn to stories of the turn of the century. So much was going on between the Civil War and World War One. A new invention seemed to pop up every day and the culture of Americans began to morph until we saw the entrance of a strong middle class. I think I may have formed a love for this time period from the stories my grandparents told. My paternal grandfather was a baby boomer--from the Civil War. Amazing. He smoked a clay pipe, read the newspaper with a magnifying glass and wore a pocket watch. He fascinated me with his tales of his personal history and, of course, I loved him dearly.

Well, these are some of the things that drew me to my favorite genres to read and write about. So tell me, what are your favorite genre's? What do you like to read? Why do you write the kinds of stories that you write?

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/