On the first day of school, my father told me I'd be the most popular girl and everyone would love me and want to be my friend. It wasn't so, but it gave me an enormous amount of confidence. Maeve Binchy More Quotes by Maeve Binchy More Quotes From Maeve Binchy I try to make my characters kind of ordinary, somebody that anybody could be. Because we've all had loves, perhaps love and loss, people can relate to my characters. Maeve Binchy perhaps-love loss character We're nothing if we're not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself, that has to be the most important thing in life, really. And I think we are all striving for it in different ways. I also believe very, very strongly that everybody is the hero/heroine of his/her own life. I try to make my characters kind of ordinary, somebody that anybody could be. Because we've all had loves, perhaps love and loss, people can relate to my characters Maeve Binchy hero character believe I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks. Maeve Binchy ugly-duckling swans writing Nobody is ordinary if you know where to look. Maeve Binchy knows ordinary looks If you don't go to a dance you can never be rejected but you'll never get to dance either. Maeve Binchy rejected ifs In Ireland every place you visit and every person you meet has a story. And they love to tell you their stories. Everyone is interested in everything; in a land of storytellers, you will never be bored. Maeve Binchy bored land stories The whole art of life is knowing the right time to say things. Maeve Binchy timing knowing art We are all the heroes and heroines of our own lives. Our love stories are amazingly romantic; our losses and betrayals and disappointments are gigantic in our own minds. Maeve Binchy betrayal disappointment hero Because I saw my parents relaxing in armchairs and reading and liking it, I thought it was a peaceful grown-up thing to do, and I still think that. Maeve Binchy parent reading thinking I don't think you're happier if you're thin or beautiful or rich or married. You have to make your own happiness. My heroines do not become beautiful elegant swans, they become confident ducks and get on with life. Maeve Binchy swans beautiful thinking The most important thing to realize is that everyone is capable of telling a story. Maeve Binchy realizing important stories Happiness is in our own hearts. I have no regrets of anything in the past. I'm totally cheerful and happy, and I think that a lot of your attitude is not in the circumstances you find yourself in, but in the circumstances you make for yourself. Maeve Binchy regret heart attitude Everybody is a hero in their own story if you just look. Maeve Binchy hero stories looks My father went to work by train every day. It was half an hour's journey each way, and he would read a paperback in four journeys. After supper, we all sat down to read - it was long before TV, remember! Maeve Binchy journey long father I'm an escapist kind of writer. Maeve Binchy escapists kind You say to yourself: 'What could people, in all these countries, find in my books?' and yet I think we're all the same, anywhere. Everybody is a hero or a dramatic person in their own story if you just know where to look. Maeve Binchy hero country book I think you've got to play the hand that you're dealt and stop wishing for another hand. Maeve Binchy play hands thinking Always write as if you are talking to someone. It works. Don't put on any fancy phrases or accents or things you wouldn't say in real life. Maeve Binchy real writing talking I have always believed that life is too short for rows and disagreements. Even if I think I'm right, I would prefer to apologize and remain friends rather than win and be an enemy. Maeve Binchy life-is-too-short winning thinking Of course, I should have done what doctors said and walked for miles every day and not eaten great amounts of butter. But then, life is life, and if we all did what they said we should do, it would be a different world. Maeve Binchy doctors different should-have
