Write about the first book you read that made you want to become a writer.

For a long time, I believed that that book (or in this case, series) was Warriors by Erin Hunter. It was not.

The first book I stole- er, I mean "borrowed" from my school library- was a book by Daniel Ehrenhaft, The Last Dog On Earth.

It was the first book that made me cry.

My first short story was inspired by it, three years after I first read it. It was a Grade 8 English short story- a "thriller" by my choice, and even now it is the work I am most proud of.

That book was what gave me the courage to push for change in my troubled childhood, and with good results.

It was a key to my prison cell.

Of course I still had to get out of the actual prison, but it was the first step, and I think that small bit of freedom made me understand the importance of literature, and the important messages expressed within.

Upon that understanding grew my need to express my own truths and secrets, my own anguish and triumphs; my own spirit, which had been confined for so long.

It made me strong as a young teen, and gave me the strength I needed to face the coming challenges as a youth.

While I can't say that it made me successful in my endeavors, I can say that it helped me survive them, and at the time that was the greatest achievement I could attain.

Writing and reading is important to me as an individual, as is that book that showed me this creative world and shone a light on that hidden part of my personality.

Who knows, maybe I wouldn't have even developed that part of my personality without it.

Write about the first thing you would do if you were invisible.

1)    Make sure I'm really invisible.

2)    Kick (redacted 1) in the sensitive-man-area.

3)    Snoop through (redacted 2)’s things.

4)    (Redacted).

I’m paranoid. I’ll just go ahead and make that clear. I’m cautious and hesitant, and if I were going to proceed in doing things invisible people can do, I’d want to make sure I was really invisible and not just off my rocker.

Then, since no one can see me doing it, I'd blow off a lot of steam. I don't know why, but I feel like if I let out any emotion in an attempt to relieve myself, I'd break the fragile threads that are holding my world together.

I’d go someplace and smash a lot of things. I would scream, I would punch, and I would “haunt” people who piss me off. I would cry, drive fast, and run around all night with a can of spray paint. I would be dangerous, and damn risky.

The thing I would most likely be keen on doing though, is people watching. I know it sounds creepy, but I'm completely mind-boggled and stumped, and I have a lot of questions that I need answered. So yes, I would break into people’s houses, make sure a certain person isn't dead, and look for evidence that another particular person isn't completely soulless.

And then I would (redacted).

P.s
I'd probably also hide from the chore givers and play myself some invisible video games. : P

You have written a book and are pretending to be a member of the opposite sex- what pen name do you choose?

The first name I think would be “Jay”. It sounds soft and I’m a big sucker for names that start with “J”. I also like the mental image I get when I say it; I've always wanted wings and to be able to fly.

The last name is harder to choose. To me, most last names don’t really flow; they sound rough. Not to mention most last names I know belong to people I know personally, and taking someone’s last name feels weird, like I’m saying I want to be part of them, like I’m saying “You guys are family!” In reality, I don’t feel like that with most of my real family, and I hate signs of sentiment when they are illegitimate. This means I need to use a name that doesn't belong to anyone I know. That takes away most of the last names I know.

I like “Hartnett.” It sounds like “heart”, and “net”. A “heart net?”  I’m not typically the type of person who likes that kind of mushy stuff, but it makes the name sound more personal- and if you feel somehow connected to the author you’re more likely to be interested in reading the book. People don’t give books a lot of time when they’re looking through shelves for something to read- you only get a brief chance to catch someone’s attention and interest. I’m not a business person, I don’t think of it as a sales tactic- I think of it as wanting to share the stories and adventures I've experienced with others and see what they take away from it.

For “Hartnett” though, I think I’d maybe just use it for a female pen name- if I haven’t used that name for a character yet anyways.

For a man, I think maybe I’d use “Kendrick.” When I was a child I had a friend with the last name “Kendrick,” but I don’t know him anymore so I wouldn't feel weird using that name.

In reality, I don't really know any other last names apart from over-used ones I constantly read in novels.

Honestly, I think I’d just stick with one name, regardless of gender:

“Rossomak.”