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Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin Quotes

Crime writer

Ian Rankin, born on April 28, 1960, is a renowned Scottish crime writer. His works, set in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, delve into themes of crime, social issues, and the darker aspects of human nature. Rankin's novels are highly appreciated by readers and have won numerous awards in the crime fiction genre.

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Famous Ian Rankin Quotes

“I don't have many friends. It's not because I'm a misanthrope. It's because I'm reserved. I'm self-contained. I get all my adventures in my head when I'm writing my books.”

Writing Book Self Adventure Reserved Many Friends Self Contained Misanthrope

Author:Ian Rankin

“A lot of writers, especially crime writers, have an image that we think we're trying to keep up with. You've got to be seen as dark and slightly dangerous. But I'm not like that and I've realised that I don't need to put that on. People will buy the books whether they see a photo of you dressed in black or not.”

People Thinking Needs Trying Book Black Dark Dangerous Crime Realised

Author:Ian Rankin

“I used to think that: whenever I heard that someone had taken 10 years to write a novel, I'd think it must be a big, serious book. Now I think, 'No - it took you one year to write, and nine years to sit around eating Kit Kats.”

Thinking Writing Years Book Bigs Used Novel Taken Heard Serious Eating Nine Nine Years

Author:Ian Rankin

“I'm often asked how I write books, but I don't think my approach is suitable for everyone. If I walked into a creative writing class, all I could say to them was 'I tend to make it up as I go along.' I'm not sure that's brilliant advice.”

Ifs Thinking Writing Book Class Creative Advice Approach Brilliant Not Sure Creative Writing Suitable

Author:Ian Rankin

“My first novel was turned down by half a dozen publishers. And even after having published five or six books, I wasn't making enough money to live on, and was beginning to think I'd have to give up the dream of being a full-time writer.”

Thinking Giving Firsts Book Enough Dream Half Novel Five Giving Up Six Dozen Publishers Turned Down

Author:Ian Rankin

“No matter how many awards you've won or how many sales you've got, come the next book it's still a blank sheet of paper and you're still panicking like hell that you've got nothing new to say.”

Stills Book Matter Next Hell Paper Awards Blank Sheets Nothing New

Author:Ian Rankin

“Was it all inevitable, John?" Reeve was pushing his fingers across the floor of the cell, seated on his haunches. I was lying on the mattress. Yes," I said. "I think it was. Certainly, it's written that way. The end of the book is there before the beginning's hardly started.”

Thinking Way Said Book Ends Lying Written Fingers Cells Inevitable Pushing Mattresses

Book:Knots and Crosses: An Inspector Rebus Novel

Source: Knots and Crosses: An Inspector Rebus Novel

“I started writing novels while an undergraduate student, in an attempt to make sense of the city of Edinburgh, using a detective as my protagonist. Each book hopefully adds another piece to the jigsaw that is modern Scotland, asking questions about the nation's politics, economy, psyche and history ... and perhaps pointing towards its possible future.”

Writing Book Nations Cities Novel Economy Pieces Modern Students Asking Add Hopefully Make Sense Scotland Pointing Detectives Asking Questions Protagonists Edinburgh Undergraduate Jigsaw

Author:Ian Rankin

About the Author

Born: April 28, 1960
Known for: Crime writer
Quotes: 38

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Books & Sources

Blood HuntRelated source material

Knots and Crosses: An Inspector Rebus NovelRelated source material

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