“I wrote a paper [in school] on [William] Faulkner and no one could tell what the sentences meant.” Quote by Elizabeth Crook
“It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn't hear the barbarians coming.” AirWindowLuxuryEmpiresConditioningBarbariansRoman EmpireAir ConditioningRoman Civilization Author:Garrison Keillor
“The author with the greatest influence on me is my friend Stephen Harrigan, who critiques everything I write before I even bother to show it to my agent or editor. He's a truly great writer - author of Gates of the Alamo and other books you might know of, and his instincts about what's working in a story, and what's not, are just about perfect. My books would be very different without his influence.” KnowsWritingBookDifferentStoriesShowsMightWould BePerfectInfluenceMy FriendsInstinctAgentsBotherGatesEditorsCritiqueGreat WritersAlamo Author:Elizabeth Crook
“The Night Journal received two awards that I'm terribly proud of - -the Spur from Western Writers of America, and the Willa Literary Award from Women Writing the West. Both these groups are filled with great writers and good people.” PeopleWritingTwoAmericaNightGroupsProudFilledWestWesternAwardsGood PeopleJournalSpursGreat Writers Author:Elizabeth Crook
“As for anticipation, you never know what to expect of a book. They're like kids: you bring them into the world, fret about them, and then at some point there's no other option but to turn them lose and see how they do.” KnowsWorldBookKidsTurnsLosesAnticipation Author:Elizabeth Crook
“It took me ten years to write The Night Journal, so that was a big ordeal.” WritingYearsBigsNightTenJournalOrdeals Author:Elizabeth Crook
“I knew from previous books not to count on anything in terms of sales. My first novel - -The Raven's Bride, about Sam Houston's disastrous first marriage - -sold well and got attention, but my second book - -Promised Lands, about the Texas Revolution - -didn't.” FirstsWellsBookTermAttentionNovelLandRevolutionTexasBridesHoustonRavensPromised Land Author:Elizabeth Crook
“Promised Lands was a better book in my opinion, and it's still my mother's favorite of the three I've done, but I doubt anyone who isn't a blood relative has ever heard of it. Which is to say expectations aren't worth much in the book world.” WorldStillsBookDoneMotherThreeOpinionDoubtHeardBloodLandExpectationsRelativePromised LandBlood Relatives Author:Elizabeth Crook
“I grew up thirty miles down the highway in San Marcos, and I've still got family there, so I guess I'm pretty well rooted.” WellsStillsGrewGrew UpMilesThirtyRootedHighwaysMarcos Author:Elizabeth Crook
“I love the writers in Austin. We stick together. We all like each other and go to each other's book signings in case no one else shows up.” BookShowsTogetherCasesSticksSigningAustin Author:Elizabeth Crook