"The past is a difficult country from which no one ever leaves as a refugee."
This quote suggests that the past, much like a foreign land, is a place we cannot escape once we've been there. Its influence shapes us profoundly, just as a country of origin does for its citizens. The experiences, memories, and emotions associated with the past remain an integral part of our identity. Even when we try to move on or forget, those elements from our past continue to impact us in subtle ways, much like a refugee who carries the weight of their homeland within them, even after leaving. This quote serves as a poignant reminder that we are all products of our past, and it's an essential part of who we are, for better or worse.
"We all have our demons. We just choose where to keep them."
This quote emphasizes that everyone has personal struggles, fears, or negative aspects (the "demons") that we carry within us. However, it's up to each individual to decide how to manage these challenges in their life. We can choose to suppress them, confront them, ignore them, or face and overcome them. The choice reveals a great deal about one's character and resilience. In essence, the quote suggests that our response to our own demons defines us as much as they do.
"Crime doesn't pay... but it sure as hell keeps you warm at night."
This quote suggests that although criminal activity is inherently wrong and often results in financial hardship, there may be a perceived sense of security or warmth derived from the power, excitement, or other personal benefits associated with such activities. It's a thought-provoking commentary on the complex motivations driving individuals towards crime, emphasizing that while it doesn't offer long-term stability or reward, it can provide a temporary feeling of comfort or satisfaction for some.
"It's easy to feel that the world is divided between those who are lost and those who are looking for them."
This quote suggests that there exists a universal sense of disorientation or confusion, where people often feel lost or uncertain in their lives (those who are lost). However, it's the empathetic individuals who actively search for meaning, purpose, or understanding—these are those who are looking for them. It highlights the shared human experience of feeling adrift and the essential role compassionate souls play in helping others navigate through their struggles.
"Everyone lies, some more fluently than others."
This quote emphasizes that deception is a universal human trait. While people may differ in their ability to lie effectively, ultimately, everyone has the capacity to tell untruths, for various reasons such as self-preservation, protection of others, or to manipulate situations. The quote serves as a reminder that truthfulness should be approached with caution and discernment.
It never ceases to amaze me that readers who are willing to suspend their disbelief when it comes to the motivation of a vicious serial killer get high and mighty because I have put a coffee shop where there isn't one. Er... it's a novel. I made one up. I'm allowed to make stuff up. I'd go as far as to suggest that I make stuff up for a living.
- Mark Billingham
There have been some brilliant and very successful standalone books that work in themselves and also seem to refresh a series. Anyone who writes a series lives in fear of it becoming stale, so you do whatever you can to keep it fresh - although it does feel a bit nerve-racking to write outside of your comfort zone.
- Mark Billingham
Whether your audience is in a sweaty basement club or nestled in a favourite armchair, good money has been paid, and attention has got to be grabbed if you are not to be heckled off the stage or find your novel discarded in favour of the latest volume of 'Fifty Shades of Whatever.'
- Mark Billingham
I'd read one too many crime novels where the victim was just a name: body number one, dead woman number 12. I understood fear, and I wanted to create characters who made readers say, 'Please, don't hurt this guy.' That's the key to suspense. It's easy to disgust a reader. It's much harder to make them care.
- Mark Billingham
I used to be something of an obsessive when it came to research. When I first began writing the Thorne novels, I would drive to a set of traffic lights in the early hours of the morning to make sure you could turn left. I thought it was important to get even the most trivial details right.
- Mark Billingham
I do have a touch of OCD, and I used to obsess about research. But I'm better than I was. Gone are the days when I would drive to a set of traffic lights to find out if you could turn left. I finally realised it didn't matter. A book will not stand or fall on whether or not there's a branch of Starbucks in Brixton.
- Mark Billingham
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