I came to writing because I joined the North Clare Writers' Workshop, which met every week at Ennistymon Library. Kate Thompson More Quotes by Kate Thompson More Quotes From Kate Thompson My mum wouldn't have had any time for fantasy stuff; she's more practical. Kate Thompson she more fantasy time There's only one set of books I've written that I knew was going to be more than one book at the beginning, and those are the 'Missing Link' books. Kate Thompson more beginning missing book If there's a common thread to my books, it is that each involves an individual's journey. The individual must stay true to themselves. Kate Thompson stay true stay-true journey I've always felt a bit hard done by in England - you know, I've won the Bisto three times in Ireland, but it has felt like nobody has even heard of me in my home country. Kate Thompson nobody me you home What I tend to get from America is very enthusiastic letters and e-mail from librarians and schoolteachers, the gatekeepers, though I hesitate to use that word. I've never been a huge seller. Kate Thompson get never letters america My first book was an adult novel, 'Down Among the Gods,' published by Virago, and I've written poems as well, a slim volume of poetry. Kate Thompson well down poetry book You know yourself, once you've had the excitement of riding thoroughbreds, it's not very interesting riding anything else. But I still love horses; I just don't have one any more. Kate Thompson yourself you riding love I always had an awful lot going on in my head, always telling myself stories, very vivid imagination. Kate Thompson head myself always imagination I am political. But not politically active. I'm not my dad. I'll never write polemic, as he did. Kate Thompson i-am never dad political What I do find enormously gratifying is the reviews my books get from the American press. They are so on the ball compared to anywhere else. It's so satisfying to get a review that conveys the reader understood precisely what I was trying to get at. Kate Thompson ball american find trying Irish mythology is gorgeous, and so are the fairies, but they are very misrepresented in the U.K. They are not little creatures with wings. Kate Thompson fairies little gorgeous wings Children in their young teens are just moving into the moment when they are most receptive to philosophy and psychology. You can explore these things in stories and, in doing so, give them power and control. Kate Thompson moment you power children The powerlessness of the child is often forgotten. And after it comes the terrifying phase of moving into adulthood. Kate Thompson child adulthood forgotten moving I had thought about becoming a civil rights lawyer, but I gave it up. Kate Thompson about thought lawyer rights I wasn't that bothered with school; I was too mad into horses. But I liked reading and was good enough at English and always liked music. Kate Thompson good music reading school Writers want publicity all the time, and they are always nagging their agents and publishers to give them more publicity, but, when you get it, it's kind of soul-destroying. Kate Thompson you always want time I found it really hard for a couple of years to do any writing because all I wanted to do was play the fiddle. From the minute I took it up, I just couldn't put it down. Kate Thompson down hard play writing I find it very difficult to say no when I'm in Ireland. You do end up going around doing lots of events and things and not getting work done, and it's not just a question of having hours at the desk. Kate Thompson end doing you work If I have one thing on in a week, I find it very difficult to get back to work that week. I need a lot of dreaming time. Kate Thompson back difficult work time