Neil Gaiman was born on November 10, 1960, in Hampshire, UK. Gaiman developed a love for reading at an early age. In interviews, Gaiman mentions that he grew up voraciously reading the works of "C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Edgar Allan Poe." These writers would serve as profound influences in Gaiman's later work. In interviews, Gaiman explains that his childhood fondness for libraries inspired him to pursue writing as a profession.
Instead of attending college, Gaiman chose to begin his writing career. While in England, Gaiman started working as a journalist. His first book was a biography of English new-wave band Duran Duran. The book was published in 1984. After growing...