Anne McCaffrey

“A real scientist solves problems, not wails that they are unsolvable.”

“There’s a reason that some of our oldest and most important stories start with “Once upon a time . . .” Tucked among the fantastical characters and magical other-worlds are profound truths....”

“But Ship Who Sang remains my favorite story. I really rocked folks with that and still cannot read it aloud myself without weeping at the end.”

“I think the Internet, particularly the availability of information, is great. I do a lot of correspondence on-line and have a chat line to talk to my fans as well.”

“I have my good days and my bad days, but I don't have as much energy as I used to back when I was young and foolish and didn't count the cost - and it takes a lot - to write.”

“I have written my own screen version of Pern, but had no buyers yet.”

“I have a shelf of comfort books, which I read when the world closes in on me or something untoward happens.”

“What I used to do between writing fits was feed my kids, ride my horse and go shopping for cat and dog food.”

“I would recommend the short story form, which is a lot harder to write since you have to be so careful with words, until there is plenty of time to doodle through a novel.”

“I wouldn't encourage new writers to start off publishing through electronic media... it still isn't wide enough for the readership they would need to get a good start.”

“People have freaked out when I tell them that my dragons are scientifically based... what else can you call a genetically engineered life form?”

“Make no judgements where you have no compassion.”

“I think writers need windows on a view to remind them that a whole world is out there, not the minutiae with which they might be dealing on a close scale.”

“I also don't have organized religion on Pern. I figured - since there were four holy wars going on at the time of writing - that religion was one problem Pern didn't need.”

“I do outlines when I'm writing with someone, but they also need to have a certain amount of freedom.”

“I don't often reread my own books, unless I am going into another in the series and need to refresh my mood when originating the concept.”

“At age 77, I need the help of someone with more energy than I can now summon to finish a book.”

“I didn't raise Todd to be a writer, but he happened to be one anyway.”

“I'm very fond of the Talent series, and also the Crystal Singer trio.”

“The thing is, emotion - if it's visibly felt by the writer - will go through all the processes it takes to publish a story and still hit the reader right in the gut. But you have to really m...”