You must never believe everything they say about a person. Generally speaking, most of it will be lies, half-truths at best. — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“There were doorways between this world and the next, she said, but only certain people could pass through them.” — Kate Atkinson Doorways Copy Share Image
“This Jackson bloke was the ruddy Scarlet Pimpernel, here, there and everywhere, always one step ahead of Barry. And everywhere he went,… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Because life is an adventure, of course.” “I would say it was more of an endurance race,” Sylvie said. “Or an obstacle… — Kate Atkinson Adventure Copy Share Image
“They have no sense of humour whatsoever – even Bunty has a sense of humour compared with our hosts. They have united… — Kate Atkinson Comedy Copy Share Image
What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get it right? Wouldn't that be… — Kate Atkinson Chance Copy Share Image
“Love at first sight, she wrote giddily to Millie. But of course such feelings weren't 'true' love (that was what she would… — Kate Atkinson Children Copy Share Image
“Women seemed to him to be in possession of all kinds of undesirable properties, chiefly madness.” — Kate Atkinson Madness Copy Share Image
Sylvia loved secrets and even if she didn't have any secrets she made sure that you thought she did. Amelia had no… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
Like many writers, I started by writing short stories. I needed to learn how to write and stories are the most practical… — Kate Atkinson Books Copy Share Image
“Ah, I know," Bridget said. "For sure, you have the sixth sense." Mrs. Glover, wrestling with the plum pudding, snorted her disapproval.… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
I usually start writing a novel that I then abandon. When I say abandon, I don't think any writer ever abandons anything… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Did God get out of bed one morning and draw back the curtains (Reggie's imaginary God led a very domesticated life) and… — Kate Atkinson Death Copy Share Image
I was on the verge of something numinous and profound and in one more second the universe was going to crack open… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
I need to be very isolated to write, and unfortunately isolation is often quite difficult to find. My ideal writing environment would… — Kate Atkinson Country Copy Share Image
“He smelled of cloves and pipe tobacco and had a twinkly look about him as if he were going to toast muffins… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Get down,' Bunty says grimly. 'Mummy's thinking.' (Although what Mummy's actually doing is wondering what it would be like if her entire… — Kate Atkinson Family Copy Share Image
“That was the problem with time travel, of course (apart from the impossibility) - one would always be a Cassandra, spreading doom… — Kate Atkinson Cassandra Copy Share Image
“What did science ever do for the world, apart from make better ways of killing people?” Sylvie said.” — Kate Atkinson Better way Copy Share Image
Because I've a track record of talking about books I never write, in Australia they think I'm about to write a book… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“I dreamt of going on the stage once," he said, looking crestfallen. "It's never too late," I said vaguely. A lie, of… — Kate Atkinson Dreams Copy Share Image
“What if this present were the world's last night' she said. 'The word present makes all the difference, don't you think? It… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Slattern! What a wonderful new word. 'Slattern,' I murmur appreciatively to Patricia. 'Yes, slattern,' Bunty says firmly. 'That's what she is.' 'Not… — Kate Atkinson Awkward moments Copy Share Image
“She'd had a glimpse of a possible future-the pretty cottage, the garden full of flowers and vegetables, bread in the oven, a… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Sweet sixteen," Hugh said, kissing her affectionately. "Happy birthday, little bear. Your future's all ahead of you." Ursula still harbored the feeling… — Kate Atkinson Happy birthday Copy Share Image
Sometimes I would like to cry. I close my eyes. Why weren't we designed so that we can close our ears as… — Kate Atkinson Cry Copy Share Image
Why is everything an 'adventure' with you?" Sylvie said irritably to Izzie." "Because life is an adventure, of course." "I would say… — Kate Atkinson Adventure Copy Share Image
“Ursula found it very odd to think that up above them there were German bombers being flown by men who, essentially, were… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“It wasn't fair, he thought peevishly. "Who said life was fair?" his father had said to him a hundred times. He had… — Kate Atkinson Life Copy Share Image
“I was distracted suddenly from these pleasant thoughts by noticing that, like the eyes in certain portraits, Heather’s nipples seemed to have… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
I'm trying to take more nothing time - and that means sacrificing doing. It's partly to do with age, partly to do… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
When I'm writing, my neural pathways get blocked. I can't read. I can barely hold a conversation without forgetting words and names.… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Ursula craved solitude but she hated loneliness... At work, they regarded her as a person apart... They imagined there must be more… — Kate Atkinson Dark horse Copy Share Image
Julia's vocabulary was "chock-full" of strangely archaic words - "spiffing," "crumbs," "jeepers" - that seemed to have originated in some prewar girls'… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
A novel and its writer are inseparable: you are your books. A play's not like that at all. 'Abandonment's not mine -… — Kate Atkinson Abandonment Copy Share Image
“Ursula had grown rather callous about George Glover’s lungs, she had heard so much of them that they seemed to have a… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
I think you have to learn for yourself how to write. I'm slightly mystified by creative writing courses - God love them… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
Jennifer had never liked the pain of remembering what had happened, but for Theo it was the pain that kept Laura alive… — Kate Atkinson Alive Copy Share Image
“Dr. Kellet himself wore a three-piece Harris tweed suit strung with a large gold fob watch. He smelled of cloves and pipe… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Personally, I don’t think it right to make up things about real people—although I suppose there’s an argument for saying that once… — Kate Atkinson Copy Share Image
