Nora Roberts Quotes

Powerful Nora Roberts for Daily Growth

About Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950, in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a prolific American author renowned for her captivating romance novels. She is one of the best-selling authors worldwide, with over 200 million copies of her books sold across 35 countries in more than 45 languages. Roberts's love for storytelling blossomed at an early age. Inspired by her mother's collection of romantic novels and her Irish grandmother's folklore, she started writing stories as a teenager. After graduating from high school, Roberts attended Catholic University in Washington D.C., where she majored in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Roberts's first published novel, "Irish Thoroughbred," was written under the pseudonym of "Eleanor Robertson" in 1981. However, it was her second book, "Silhouette of a Siren," published in 1985 as Nora Roberts, that catapulted her to stardom and marked the beginning of her illustrious career. Known for her intricate plotlines, vivid character development, and immersive settings, Roberts has written over 230 novels across various subgenres of romance, including contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal, and historical fiction under several pen names. Some of her most popular works include the "Born in Ice & Snow" trilogy, the "Three Sisters Island" series, and the "In Death" series written as J.D. Robb. Roberts's works often explore themes of love, family, identity, and self-discovery. Her novels transport readers to breathtaking locations and weave suspenseful narratives while maintaining a strong emotional core. In her writing, she seeks to create complex characters that resonate with readers, as well as engaging stories that offer an escape from the mundane. In 2015, Roberts was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the romance genre. She remains one of the most influential authors in the field and continues to enchant readers with her captivating stories.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life was like a book, and sometimes you had to read a lot of pages to find the good parts."

This quote suggests that life is full of experiences, some pleasant and some challenging, similar to reading a book where one encounters many different chapters before reaching the interesting or rewarding parts. It implies that perseverance and patience are essential in navigating through life's ups and downs to discover the positive aspects that make it worthwhile.


"Love in real life wasn't about perfect endings. It was about imperfect beginnings, messy middles, and still choosing to keep going."

This quote underscores the reality that love is not always a smooth journey, but rather a complex and often challenging process. It suggests that genuine love is found in sticking together through the imperfect beginnings, messy middles, and difficulties, rather than in achieving a perfect ending or fairy-tale romance. The message emphasizes the importance of commitment, resilience, and patience when navigating relationships, highlighting that real-life love stories are not defined by their endings, but by the choices we make along the way to keep nurturing and growing our connections.


"Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you.' 'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You grow accustomed to it; you get used to being loved and let go. That's shared sorrow, that's called pain, and remember you don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their kindness, or even for their character, but because they chose to love you."

This quote by Nora Roberts suggests that reality is not inherent in one's physical form, but rather it emerges from experiences and connections. The Skin Horse explains this concept using the example of being loved. Love doesn't come from a person's appearance or qualities, but because they choose to love you. This choice creates an emotional bond that can cause pain, particularly when the relationship ends. However, over time, one grows accustomed to this pain, as it comes with the shared experience of loving and being loved in return. The quote underscores the importance of emotional connections and the transformative power they hold in shaping our understanding of reality.


"There are many lives to live, and only one life to love."

This quote suggests that we each have multiple opportunities in life to experience different aspects, roles, and adventures. However, when it comes to love, there is only one chance to truly cherish and give our hearts fully. It's a reminder that love is precious, valuable, and unique, worth devoting ourselves completely to, as it only happens once in the context of each relationship.


"Family wasn't an option; it was a necessity."

This quote emphasizes the essential nature of family in one's life. It suggests that having a family is not just something you choose, but rather, it's a fundamental need for emotional support, love, and belonging. The quote underscores the idea that family provides the foundation upon which we build our lives.


Certainly the plagiarism, and dealing with the fallout of it, was the most difficult thing I've ever faced since I started writing.

- Nora Roberts

Dealing, Certainly, Most Difficult Thing

In the summer of '80, Silhouette bought my first book.

- Nora Roberts

Summer, Book, Bought, Silhouette

Aren't most romance heros, or heros in fiction of any kind, generally superior to real men? Same goes for heroines and real women.

- Nora Roberts

Kind, Fiction, Romance, Real Women

Actually, I find it great fun to develop family series with lots of characters.

- Nora Roberts

Lots, Actually, Characters, Great Fun

If you write in category, you write knowing there's a framework, there are reader expectations.

- Nora Roberts

Knowing, Framework, Reader, Category

I decided to write category romance as I'd recently discovered them, and enjoyed them.

- Nora Roberts

Romance, Discovered, Decided, Category

For over a year I continued to submit mss, and have them rejected - the last few with rejection letters indicated the story was pretty good, but I was American.

- Nora Roberts

Pretty, Over, Submit, Letters

I don't base any character on a real person, and really don't do composites either. I make them up.

- Nora Roberts

Real, Real Person, Them, Base

Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.

- Nora Roberts

Love, Magic, Deal, Delight

I don't think you can write - at least not well - if you don't love stories, love the written word.

- Nora Roberts

Love, Think, Written Word, Love Stories

I find I use the Internet more and more. It's just an invaluable tool. I do most of my research on the Net now - and certainly do the bulk of my communicating through email.

- Nora Roberts

Through, Use, Certainly, Email

Mary Stewart will always be my goddess. I can pick up one of her early books - one I've read a dozen times - and still slide right into the story.

- Nora Roberts

Always, Still, Read, Slide

I would hope that my writing's cleaner than it was when I started.

- Nora Roberts

Writing, Than, Would, Cleaner

I don't fiddle or edit or change while I'm going through that first draft.

- Nora Roberts

Through, Going, Edit, Fiddle

I'd always loved to read - and come from a family of readers - but I never thought about writing as a career.

- Nora Roberts

Career, Always, Read, Readers

I've gotten to know a number of readers from being online, and really treasure the time I've spent with them.

- Nora Roberts

Them, Gotten, Spent, Readers

Action, reaction, motivation, emotion, all have to come from the characters. Writing a love scene requires the same elements from the writer as any other.

- Nora Roberts

Love, Reaction, Other, Requires

I generally write a first draft that's pretty lean. Just get the story down.

- Nora Roberts

Pretty, Get, Lean, Draft

I long for typical days, but rarely get them any more.

- Nora Roberts

More, Get, Typical, Rarely

My own sense of family, where I came from and what I made for myself is an important part of my life.

- Nora Roberts

My Life, My Own, Made, I Came

I do indeed write on the road. My laptop goes with me everywhere.

- Nora Roberts

Road, Goes, Everywhere, Laptop

I read a lot - and I read a variety of genres.

- Nora Roberts

Lot, Read, Genres, Variety

And each book has to receive your best effort every single time. No slacking.

- Nora Roberts

Book, Single, Receive, Single Time

One of my greatest pleasures is falling into a story someone else has written.

- Nora Roberts

Falling, Someone, Else, Pleasures

Every writer has to figure out what works best - and often has to select and discard different tools before they find the one that fits.

- Nora Roberts

Discard, Figure, Works, Fits

I believe strongly in writing groups such as Romance Writers Of America that offer support, information and networking.

- Nora Roberts

Believe, Networking, Romance, Groups

The most important aspect of any story, to me, is character.

- Nora Roberts

Character, Important, Most, Aspect

I need to write to be happy.

- Nora Roberts

Happy, Need, Write, Be Happy

I don't believe for one moment you can write well what you wouldn't read for pleasure.

- Nora Roberts

Believe, Well, Read, Pleasure

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