Biggest Literary influences are: Roger Zelazny, Stephen Donaldson, Tannith Lee, Tolkien and Robert Heinlein. So a mix of hard sci-fi and high-fantasy.
I am currently very intringued by Brandon Sanderson and Steven Eriksen.
A metal sign hung by the road. An elegant lion welcomed visitors to the Red Lion Inn. The caravan wagons turned one by one into the gate and pulled around the main building to the stable.