I watched the Star Wars trilogy with some good friends of mine for the first time in a few years, I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies-one of those first mashup books-and then I went to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with my family.

I do think any modern storyteller is influenced by the stories we all grow up with and become familiar with, our shared cultural narratives.

I pray thee, sir, forgive me for the mess/And whether I shot first, I'll not confess. - Han Solo

- Be thou not technical with me,/Or else thine input valve may swift receive/a hearty helping of my golden foot.

This Force, by troth, I'll never comprehend! It doth control and also doth obey? And 'tis within and yet it is beyond, 'Tis both inside and yet outside one's self? What paradox! What fickle-natur'd pow'r! Aye: frailty, thy name-- belike--is Force.

O help/ Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help. Thou art/ Mine only hope. -Leia Organa

My favorite play is Hamlet. It was my first love when it comes to Shakespeare, and I've read it and seen it performed more than just about every other Shakespeare play. I've had the To be or not to be monologue memorized since I was 15, and it's just really close to my heart.