Last time I promised (or threatened, if you prefer) to provide my favorite quotations from Left Coast Crime, held in February in San Francisco. With no further ado...
"Sometimes I think I write books in order to research." Connie Berry
"A short story is like a quick jab to the nose." - Vera Chan
"Scottish marriage counseling: He'll do. Shut up." - Catriona McPherson
"The last ten pages of all my books I wrote the day they were due." - Wendall Thomas
"My second biggest fear is that I might spill food on myself, because I always thought in case of a famine I could boil my clothes." - Sara Paretsky
"My low expectations have been fulfilled." - Paul Levine
"When I'm bored with a character I murder them." - Gordon Jack
"I'm a historical crime novelist and I also write historical crime novels." SJ Rozan
"It's very satisfying to sit at a passive-aggressive meeting and think 'I could take you down.'" - Vera Chan
"My character's name is Joy because she's utterly joyless." - Susan Sherman
"In revision you take out everything that isn't the book." - Hank Phillippi Ryan
"My finishing school was a waste of money." - Catriona McPherson
"I thought [Saul] Bellow's writing would have been better if he ever had a real job and didn't have women supporting him all his life." - Sara Paretsky
"If you have a resolution it's commercial. If you don't it's literary." - Vera Chan
"I was amazed at how similar the social dynamics are between retirement homes and high school." Gordon Jack
"Taxidermy is always funny." - Catriona McPherson
"You should imagine sending your story to the editor one sentence at a time." - Tom Andes
"Since I'm last I'm told I can talk as long as I want, right? Chapter One..." - Jennifer van der Kleut
"The smart money is always on Goliath." - C.R. Foster
Oh, and chag Pesach sameach to those who celebrate.
I love these, especially Michael Bracken's on the short story and Sara Paretsky's evaluation of Saul Bellow (whose books I almost never finished).
ReplyDeleteYup, I'm about to mention Sara P on Saul Bellow, too, Steve!!! A truly inspiring list of quotes, Rob - thank you. Also, "My low expectations have been fulfilled." and Scottish marriage counceling (C McP, who can always be counted on)
ReplyDeleteWonderful quotes!
ReplyDelete"I was amazed at how similar the social dynamics are between retirement homes and high school." Gordon Jack - Sorry, Gordon, it's between retirement homes and JUNIOR high school.