I've always liked to write... I've just seldom had the time to do so and I haven't had a lot to write about (I had a good life before I set my world on fire). Now there's plenty to write on. I love to write, and I'm not unskilled... but I have no idea how to write novels. Thankfully I've read many - I love Murakami's style... it's pretty free form, but with a plot (that isn't always tied together at the end -- "Dance, Dance, Dance," for example, was wonderful with a horrible ending).
It will be a learning process. I've already started formulating ideas in my head... Narrative is always my most difficult and awkward thing to write.
I also would like to explore my thoughts on giving up everything - especially going from that life of being "on top" to basically the very bottom (apart from those in multiple under privileged groups).
The theme is the most important thing in the books I like best... so having a strong theme is most important to my writing too.