A former researcher in animal communication, she has also written non-fiction that ranges from biology texts to the use of science fiction in developing literacy. You see, I didn't know anything about fiction publishing when I started out, so the challenge was teaching myself about the business side. Once I did meet people who could talk to me about who published what, what was involved, all those things, then it was a case of being very patient.
Publishing is definitely hurry up and wait.
Fortunately, I was busy writing science non-fiction which made the waiting part a little easier. That's the obvious influence. I suppose the way I write has been affected by years of trying express concepts as clearly as possible, and to avoid confusion or ambiguity. While it's not exactly an influence, I do find that everything I learned as an editor and author previously has been incredibly helpful. I came into a career writing fiction accustomed to being edited, to understanding the value of revising, and with a healthy respect for deadlines.