writing, reading, listening to music, hanging out with friends, studying history, experiencing history, traveling, having random adventures, billiards, bowling, darts, seeing new and interesting places, useless trivia, telling bad jokes, playing video games, acting, playacting, doing all those things you know you shouldn't do to kill time and then regretting it later, recently discovered I like horseback riding and can't wait to do it again, throwing parties for my friends, going to parties and meeting new people, deep conversations about things your not supposed to talk about (politics, religion), meaningless conversations about things that don't really matter, vodka (it's the Russian in me, but so much more...)----particularly discovering new, good brands. Like Zyr, my current fav. What else? I like Russian culture, England (my heritage) and the East Coast. So much more. If I were to keep listing things as they come to me, I would be here forever. And I really have other things to do...
Fans! (just kidding, sort of.) It's kind of exciting when someone I don't know writes me and lets me know what they thought of something I wrote.Actually, though, I'd like to meet anyone with similar interests, really. I like to be social and meet new people. My basic job/career is a solitary one, so I have to come out of my cave every now and then and make contact with the rest of the world. It would also be great to get back in touch with old friends, as well. So far networking on this site has been good, too. I'm enjoying all the other writers and people in the book business I've been meeting here. So I'd like to meet more of them. However, I'd prefer people I don't know yet to send me a message first telling me something about themselves, maybe letting me know why they wanted to be friends or at least just saying hi rather than just adding me as a friend. Doing both at the same time is fine, too, but if I don't already know you, I'm no longer going to add you unless we have some kind of communication. I'm tired of all the random adds from people that I have nothing in common with, are just trying to promote some web site or money making scheme, etc. Also, if you think I might like your band, that's fine, I like discovering new music---but you should send me a note, too, telling me why I might be into your music, etc. If it sounds cool, I'll check you out when I have time, and then maybe add you, but I won't respond to your add invite if it's just sent out because you saw on my profile that I like a certain kind of music, etc. Any band on my friends page I personally selected and want to support. Thank you for your consideration.
All kinds, but particularly heavy metal. Ozzy and Black Sabbath. Judas Priest. Savatage. Paul Dianno. Iron Maiden. King Diamond and Mercyful Fate. Old school NWOBHM, and the mid 80's thrash: Megadeth, Anthrax, Exodus, Nevermore, etc. Also some industrial---KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, Marillon. Newer stuff too like System of a Down and Slipnot. I'll give new things a chance, but I'm always going back to my old staples that I grew up with. Pretty much anything metal gets my attention.
When I get a chance, I like to see comedies mostly, or thrillers. I do like horror, but not as much as I enjoy reading it. Things that are just intended for a scare often kind of bore me. Maybe I'm just jaded? Generally, I like things that are either intricate and you have to pay attention, or things that are just lighthearted and silly. I guess it depends on what kind of mood I'm in.
There are a few shows I watch, but mostly old reruns. There aren't very many things on these days that I really like. Most often when i watch tv, though, it is just to veg out and relax, so it doesn't really matter whats on. I tend to watch a lot of comedies. I guess I like to laugh.
How about authors? Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Christopher Golden, Peter Straub, King, Koontz, about half of what Anne Rice writes. Michael Connelly, Anne Perry, James Lee Burke, James Patterson. Orson Scott Card, F. Paul Wilson. Steinbeck, Hawthorne, London, Poe, Lovecraft. The list goes on.
Uhm. I really admire Peter Straub. He is one of my biggest influences writing wise. Getting to meet him for the first time and chatting over a Vodka martini in Chicago a number of years ago was one of those personal highlights for me. And the fact that he remembered me afterward was even better! Other than people who have influenced me, I would have to say I admire most people of character.