When I started writing I did have some idealised notion of my dad as a writer. But I have less and less of a literary rivalry with him as I've gone on. I certainly don't feel I need his approval although maybe that's because I'm confident that I've got it.
You can't tell your kids to read if you're just watching television. They have to see you read. And in that respect I think it's important to walk the walk. It's a wonderful shared time.
