Started on sff comic books in the late 40s when they were allowed to be as good as they wanted to be. Found hard science fiction in the very early 50s, reading my brother's Galaxy magazine when he wasn't around. Found mainstream fiction in the mid-50s with Steinbeck, Hersey, and Drury and Michener in the 60s. Found fantasy in 1966 with Lord of the Rings. Been writing since the early 50s in elementary school.