Whimsical observations from Bill:

 

*I've been happy when stories of mine have been finalists for awards, but I've never won anything for writing fiction. The only writing award I won came in my senior year of high school. My term paper, "Robert II, Duke of Normandy," for a World History class, came in first in the Social Studies section of the school district's science fair.

The same year, my high school had a short story contest. My story came in third. The winning story, by a good friend of mine, really was better. 

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*Favorite authors: Rob Chilson, Alan Brennert, Robert Crais, Michael Cassutt, Harlan Ellison, P.C. Hodgell, Frank Chin, Dorothy M. Johnson, Howard Pyle, Edward Eager—and, really, too many to list. 

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*Favorite American literary classic: "The Devil and Daniel Webster," by                    Stephen Vincent Benét.

*Scariest novel: Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

*Creepiest short story: "The Monkey's Paw," by W.W. Jacobs.

*Favorite British classic literary novel: Lord Jim, by Joseph Conrad.