Alan Baxter, award-winning author and undoubted bad-ass, has been running a series on his blog in which Australian authors talk about the things that inspire them.
Here’s my piece, in which I talk about the continuing effects that Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea has had on my walnut-sized little brain.
http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/great-inspiration-jason-franks/
While you’re there do check out Alan’s work. In particular I recommend Realmshift, the first volume of Alan’s fantasy /horror trilogy, and Write the Fight Right, a non fiction guide to writing fight scenes.