Writing has always been an outlet for my active imagination. It soothes. Without it, I'd go berserk. I write because I must. When younger, I saw the authors I admired as superheroes. How else could they command language with such authority and keep me glued to the page? My own writing was something secretive, like an embarrassing mole, too personal to share, even though it was usually fiction. Then one day I wrote a letter to Dean Koontz. I told him how I loved his books, and I included a short story of my own. He wrote back! It was a form letter with a handwritten paragraph at the bottom, just for me. There was a real person behind the superhero. And he said my letter—including my story—was good. He wished me luck with my writing and told me to persevere. Good luck? Persevere? That could only mean one thing. He saw me as someone who could become a superhero. My life has never been the same since.  Writing is who I am, not something I do. To read more about my journey as a writer, visit www.heidimannan.com/The%20Author.htm