I thought it'd be fun to go on a little nostalgia trip and re-read some of my favorite books from childhood, and I realized that they had a big impact on the sorts of things I write today.
I was obsessed with Tamora Pierce's circle of magic series as a kid (because they had girl protagonists, and that was important to 11 y/o me) I absolutely adored them, and I must have re-read them dozens of times
and I realized how many of the things I loved about those books are present in my work today- i.e. the "found family" trope, A close knit group of main characters, very character development/a focus on interpersonal relationships, etc. My main group of characters in my comic is even made up of four characters from different backgrounds coming together
I asked a friend of mine and she said she was similarly influenced by the Avatar the Last Airbender cartoon, and it shows in her writing. (Lots of deep and complex world building and fictional political conflict)
Do any of you have these sorts of influences? If so, what? What made you love it and how it show in the things you're creating today?