Stealing it, in a sick kind of sense, was like earning it. Markus Zusak More Quotes by Markus Zusak More Quotes From Markus Zusak Yes, the sky was now a devastating, home-cooked red. The small German town had been flung apart one more time. Snowflakes of ash fell so lovelily you were tempted to stretch out your tongue to catch them, taste them. Only, they would have scorched your lips. They would have cooked your mouth. Markus Zusak ashes home sky If you ever write a book, I can only give you one piece of advice. Don't let your parents get involved. Markus Zusak writing giving book I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published until I was 24. I know that sounds crazy. Markus Zusak crazy sound knows As far as this categorization of books, the way I see it is there are really a hundred-odd categories of books plus one, and on the top shelf at home, I've got the books I love, my favorite books, and that's the type of book that I want to write. Markus Zusak home writing book Nothing comes naturally to me...I have to work and rework and that's where Markus Zusak years ideas thinking I think, as the writer, you're always going to mourn something [left out of a film]. But you also just want to know there's a good reason for it being left out. On the whole, you want to give something to somebody creative. The worst thing you can do is say, "Here, be creative, but do it like I want you to do it." I was always very mindful of that. Markus Zusak creative giving thinking The beauty of my work is that my sets cost nothing. That's what I love about being a writer of novels. Markus Zusak cost novel I'm having bigger problems when I'm writing. Markus Zusak bigger-problems problem writing Personally, I like a chocolate-colored sky, dark, dark chocolate. Markus Zusak chocolate dark sky I thought what if death is more like thinking, well, war is like the boss at your shoulder, constantly wanting more, wanting more, wanting more, and then that gave me the idea that Death is weary, he's fatigued, and he's haunted by what he sees humans do to each other because he's on hand for all of our great miseries. Markus Zusak war hands thinking As a child in Sydney, my German Mum and my Austrian Dad would spontaneously tell me stories about what they saw and what they did as children. It was like a piece of Europe coming into our house... Those stories led me to my writing. Markus Zusak dad writing children When I find research really rewarding is when one piece of information gives you an idea for a story. That's when it's great. Markus Zusak stories giving ideas It's insane to be a writer and not be a reader. When I'm writing I'm more likely to be reading four or five books at once, just in bits and pieces rather than subjecting myself to a really brilliant book and thinking, "Well what's the point of me writing anything?" I'm more likely to read a book through when I take a break from writing. Markus Zusak reading writing book There are two magic acts I want to pull off when I write. One is creating a feeling that when you're inside a book, you believe everything you're reading even when you know it's not true. And the second is an extension of that, which is you know it's not true, you know it's not real, but you believe it anyway. And it's that believing of the story that isn't real that attracted me to writing and storytelling in general. Markus Zusak real believe book I read some books that were the right books for me. I read them and I didn't even notice turning the pages anymore. I thought, "That's what I want to do with my life." Markus Zusak pages want book I guess if editing doesn't hurt, you're probably not doing it properly. I find it quite difficult. The hardest part is believing that it's actually working and getting rid of the doubt that always creeps in. Markus Zusak hurt editing believe I think to be a writer, you have to enjoy being alone. I was a loner as a teenager and was always drawn to characters in books and films who were at the fringes. Markus Zusak alone you being-alone enjoy I like the idea that every page in every book can have a gem on it. It's probably what I love most about writing - that words can be used in a way that's like a child playing in a sandpit, rearranging things, swapping them around. Markus Zusak words child love book In the case of 'The Book Thief,' my research was hearing the stories of my parents when I was a child. But I started changing the stories when I began moulding the book. Markus Zusak parents child research book I've heard some writers say things like, 'Well, I'm a professional writer. I only start books I know I can finish.' I look at it maybe the other way: I only want to write books I'm not sure I can write. Markus Zusak professional start look way
