Sarah Beth Durst

All the dragons.

Yeah.

In fact, when I wasn't reading, my parents would be like, Sarah, you need fresh air.

Go outside.

And I would spend it searching for a dragon's egg.

So it was pretty much just all dragons outside.

As soon as I realized about age 10 that these books that I was so in love with were written by, you know, humans...

which hadn't really occurred to me before that.

That's the only thing I ever wanted to do.

So I didn't look back.

I just started writing and that's pretty much all I do.

The one I always mention because it was so pivotal was Alana by Tamara Pierce.

I don't know if everybody listening has read it, but in case you haven't, it's about a girl who dresses up as a boy to become a knight in a land where only boys can become knights.

And I just, I read that when I was 10 and I have this clear memory of closing that book and thinking to myself, if Alana can become a knight, I can become a writer.

And it was just one of those like empowering books, which is,

I think why I'm drawn to fantasy is because I love those books that make you feel stronger than you thought you were.

that make you feel braver that say, yes, yes, you can do this.

Yes, you can defeat the big bad.

Yes, you can meet a magical whatever.

Yeah.