Mommy, where do stories come from?

There's been some discussion about the line between author and story, particularly in relationship to the Virginia Tech shootings and the fact that the gunman wrote stories which were particularly disturbing.

Stephen King even weighed in. You'd think that he's the perfect person to ask. If anyone knows about writing truly disturbing material, it's him.

But in a real way, nobody is the right person to ask because as far as I'm concerned, nobody is asking the right question. I think asking "where's the line between author and story?" is like asking where the line is between a mother and child.

( what I think the right question is, and how I try to answer it )

And as to the Virginia Tech shootings, I would like to say that my thoughts are with those affected, the families and friends of the victims, the survivors, the students, and the school itself. I may be a writer, but for these things there truly are no words. I can only say this: may peace be with them all.