I'm interested in who you are inspired by as an author. And are they from the same genre as you are writing?
As a kid Tolkien really inspired my imagination to believe in the worlds I was shaping, but it was Jilly Cooper who made me look at character writing. Very different styles and genres!! Although I did fall head over heels for Aragorn at age 13. I'm not sure I ever gave up on finding him! :-D My man is blue eyed, long haired and a beard...
I also have a book on writing that I have had for years. Its dog eared and full of notes and highlights. Its by the great Sol Stein and is called Solutions For Writers.
So what about you? Who inspires you or helps you think in other ways about story.