German readers are much like Brits or Americans: They read for the thrill of it, the occasional shudder down the spine, knowing it's not real - but looking over their shoulders anyway, just in case. Brian Lumley More Quotes by Brian Lumley More Quotes From Brian Lumley A literary critic is someone who can't write, but who loves to show he would have been a wonderful writer if only he could! Brian Lumley critics writing wonderful Now, when I was in the Army, writing was my hobby. Brian Lumley hobbies army writing We've got one life and the older we get the more we come to realize how short it is. Brian Lumley realizing life But while our parting was mutually acceptable and even expedient, still it was painful. And I would like to think it hurt both of us, for I certainly felt it: a wrenching inside, like some small but improbably necessary organ was no longer in there, that it was missing, torn or fallen out. And at the time I'd thought that was the end of it; what was missing was gone forever Brian Lumley hurt forever thinking But I've found that to talk too much about movies is the kiss of death. If it happens then it happens, is all. Brian Lumley kissing too-much found There are lots of other things that I haven't done, places I haven't seen. So eventually I'll have to find time for those things while there still is time. Brian Lumley stills done havens The amazing thing now is that most of those so-called critics who were telling me to find my own voice seem to have lost theirs. Brian Lumley critics voice lost The Army was my bread and butter. Brian Lumley bread-and-butter army bread I'll know when the ideas aren't fresh anymore. And I'll know when writing doesn't give me a thrill anymore. Brian Lumley air writing ideas And I have to consider myself fortunate, because there are plenty of writers who spend most of a lifetime looking for that certain something without ever finding it. Brian Lumley bedtime certain lifetime I have friends who read my books in Greek. Brian Lumley greek book If, like Harry Keogh, I could talk to the dead - God, there are an awful lot of people I would like to speak to! Not least my father. Being in the army for 22 years, I didnt see enough of him, and I know there are a great many things I could have learned from him. Brian Lumley army father years But other vampire stories? Well, no, I really haven't read too many, and I can't say I'm crazy about romantic vampires anyway - to me the vampire is simply an evil monster. Brian Lumley crazy evil romantic Writers are in the entertainment business, and it gives me lots of pleasure to entertain my readers. Brian Lumley host entertainment giving If I had killed Crow off I can think of least six novels I would never have written, 400,000 words' worth of very necessary experience. Brian Lumley words never think experience I should think just about every young writer - which I was at the time - would be influenced by HPL. As an American writer of weird fiction, he was at the top of the class. Brian Lumley weird american think time Now, after 18 years, not a sign of Lovecraft in my work. Brian Lumley sign now work years But there's a little guy who sits astride my brain with a whip, and if I'm away from the machine for more than a couple of hours during the day, this little guy's lashing away. Brian Lumley more day guy brain