I'm not sure exactly when I decided to become one. I remember reading books and imagining how the story line could have gone differently and in some cases how I would have written them. This got me thinking, 'I might actually be able to do this'. Over the years the thought pestered me and I even attempted several novels, but life just got in the way—I didn't have the persistence or fortitude to make it happen. At some point I think I just had to force myself to sit down and write. There were many times I thought, 'I can't do this', but eventually I did. Then I did it again and again. And finally, after discovering the necessary persistence, I knew I wanted to be an author.