Look and Listen

Biography

I am a fiction author - I mostly write Sci Fi/Fantasy and Supernatural. I live in Los Angeles, California, and have lived in California my whole life. My first published short story (called After the Bombs) will be released in July, published by the wonderful people at Fiction Reborn. A little background info on me: I come from a family of writers and creative people - my father, Grahame Scott-Douglas, is also getting published by Fiction Reborn. He’s the culprit behind my love of Sci Fi/Fantasy. I read a lot as a kid and I progressed from reading The Boxcar Children at age nine to reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street and Christopher Pike when I was twelve. One day I was at the bookstore with my dad (a Crown Books - before they closed down) and he said, “Come over here.” I complied and he lead me to the Adults section of the store. My stomach began twisting and I felt guilty for being there. I wasn’t an adult, I was just twelve! He handed me Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, and said, “You should check this book out, it’s really good.” So I did. He was wrong - it was better than good. It was brilliant. I read the whole book that weekend and when I finished I wanted more. Now, stepping into a time travel machine to age six(ish), my dad made up stories for me and told them to me every night when I was going to sleep. I would listen with rapt attention, until my eyelids began to droop and he said, “The End”. I asked for the same stories over and over again - so he recorded a tape of them (the height of technology in those days - lol) and I still have it to this day. Rewind even further - ages four and five. My mom - Sara Louise Kras gave me her favorite children’s books. These were books about magical lands, elephants afraid of mice, princes, princesses, African beasts, seals, mice and more. Each book would take me to another place, somewhere I could see in my head. I was entranced. She shared stories from her own childhood along with books she collected throughout the years. I managed to scrawl all over them in crayon (nice one, Julia), but she eventually forgave me. Fast forward to several years ago, my mom began taking me to conferences the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s held. These inspired me to write and write about what I knew at the time - kids. My mom’s wonderful children’s books got published, and she continues to write today - and edit my work. She is a constant source of inspiration to me and always keeps me encouraged and writing. She helps me keep my “BIC” - Butt in the Chair. I also stay inspired by the creative people around me - my stepdad Joe Kras; my stepmom Katie; my handsome and talented boyfriend James; my stepsiblings Monty, Greg, Jason, Rachel and Jennifer; my smart and sophisticated cousins and my friends who keep my life fun. When I began writing - I did it because I enjoyed it. I enjoyed putting down the stories in my head. I loved writing as an activity for self exploration and escapism. Then, I realized that I was writing for other people too. I was writing for you.

Inspiration

There are many authors who have inspired me. I've delineated some in my bio above, but here are a few more of my favorites: Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, Stephen King, Joe Hill, Piers Anthony, Roald Dahl (for the lighter, fantasy side of life), C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allen Poe, Pamela Sargent and Edna St Vincent Millay.