--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think of myself as a fairly logical…" description: "\"I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and somewhat reserved person. Maura Isles, the Boston medical examiner who appears in five of my book..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/tess-gerritsen-3102_almost_i-think-of-myself-as-a-fairly-logical-sc_3108596.png" --- # I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and… ![“I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and somewhat reserved person. Maura Isles, the Boston medical examiner who appears in five of my books, is me. Almost everything I use in describing her, from her taste in wine to her biographical data, is taken from my own family. Except I don't…” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/tess-gerritsen-3102_almost_i-think-of-myself-as-a-fairly-logical-sc_3108596.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/tess-gerritsen-3102_almost_i-think-of-myself-as-a-fairly-logical-sc_3108596.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/tess-gerritsen-3102_almost_i-think-of-myself-as-a-fairly-logical-sc_3108596.png) > “I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and somewhat reserved person. Maura Isles, the Boston medical examiner who appears in five of my books, is me. Almost everything I use in describing her, from her taste in wine to her biographical data, is taken from my own family. Except I don't have a serial killer as a mother!” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author uses personal details to shape a fictional character, highlighting how life experiences inform creative work. **In simple terms:** Personal traits can inspire fictional characters. Key Takeaway Draw from your life for richer characters. Themes writing identity creativity Mood introspective curious Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - character workshops - screenwriting - storytelling Key Concepts character development autobiographical influence Questions to Reflect On - Which personal traits could become a character? - How do you balance fact and fiction? A Different Perspective Relying too much on self can limit imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boston/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Scientific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific/) [Serial killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killer/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [We are not as impervious as we think we are. - Dr Maura Isles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/we-are-not-as-impervious-as-we-think-we-are-dr-maura-isles/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When we were trying to find the woman to play Maura Isles, it was a no-brainer when Sasha came in. We just knew it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/when-we-were-trying-to-find-the-woman-to-play-maura-isles-it-was-a-no/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Serial fiction is a conceit of comic books and soap operas. As one goes, so goes the other in terms of public consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/serial-fiction-is-a-conceit-of-comic-books-and-soap-operas-as-one/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [I am a serial denier. I try not to be. I tell myself, 'You are going to die.' I repeat it. I grasp it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bari-weiss/i-am-a-serial-denier-i-try-not-to-be-i-tell-myself-you-are-going-to/) [Bari Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bari-weiss/) > [Since 1966, hundreds of books have been published that follow murderers along their paths of destruction. Every serial killer, it seems, now has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/since-1966-hundreds-of-books-have-been-published-that-follow/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [“I LIKE FIRE... I LIKE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF IT... I JUST COULDN'T STOP MYSELF FROM PLAYING WITH... - DOES it mean that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/i-like-fire-i-like-the-whole-concept-of-it-i-just-couldn-t-stop/) Deyth Banger > [There are many factors that make a serial hit or flop, but what is important is the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/there-are-many-factors-that-make-a-serial-hit-or-flop-but-what-is/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [I like to multitask. I love the process of the storytelling in television. I love the serial. Even my stab at doing a procedural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-williamson/i-like-to-multitask-i-love-the-process-of-the-storytelling-in/) [Kevin D. Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-williamson/) > [Maybe this is why so many serial killers work in pairs. It's nice not to feel alone in a world full of victims or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/maybe-this-is-why-so-many-serial-killers-work-in-pairs-it-s-nice-not/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Often, a serial killer has no felony record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-brown/often-a-serial-killer-has-no-felony-record/) [Pat Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-brown/) > [There are many more serial killers living outside the prison walls than inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-brown/there-are-many-more-serial-killers-living-outside-the-prison-walls/) [Pat Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-brown/) > [“There are questions that run through your head when you find out that you’re a serial killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-human/there-are-questions-that-run-through-your-head-when-you-find-out-that/) [Charlie Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-human/) > [“A disorganized killer is much more impulsive and haphazard. Disorganized killers make mistakes, leave fingerprints, fail to keep from being seen. Organized killers consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dugoni/a-disorganized-killer-is-much-more-impulsive-and-haphazard/) [Robert Dugoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dugoni/) > [Serial dating: It's not just for breakfast anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/serial-dating-it-s-not-just-for-breakfast-anymore/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The best heroes in the world are the reluctant ones. Courage isn't fearlessness - it's acting in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-best-heroes-in-the-world-are-the-reluctant-ones-courage-isn-t/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“If you don't love him, if you don't even care about him, then seeing him now shouldn't be all that painful. Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. It's hard on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/when-you-re-a-fifty-year-old-woman-no-one-really-bothers-to-look-at/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Mom and I often talked about the trip we'd someday take together to the 'city of eternal spring' where she was born. In Kunming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/mom-and-i-often-talked-about-the-trip-we-d-someday-take-together-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“But human anatomy and human endurance are variable. While the much younger nun had succumbed to her injuries, Ursula's heart kept beating, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/but-human-anatomy-and-human-endurance-are-variable-while-the-much/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Where we go depends on what we know, and what we know depends on where we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/where-we-go-depends-on-what-we-know-and-what-we-know-depends-on-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Some people make choices hoping for the best; Korsak had made a choice simply to avoid the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/some-people-make-choices-hoping-for-the-best-korsak-had-made-a-choice/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) [Explore all 134 Tess Gerritsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## More Almost quotes > [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) Bill Luther > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Almost every Monday I have a charity thing. I like that. I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/almost-every-monday-i-have-a-charity-thing-i-like-that-i-do/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Almost immediately, I remember right when Tikrit even fell, a few days after Baghdad fell, there was talks of insurgency, there was talks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farnaz-fassihi/almost-immediately-i-remember-right-when-tikrit-even-fell-a-few-days/) Farnaz Fassihi > [While it is often true that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, it seems like Yahoo's almost obsessive focus on Google is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/while-it-is-often-true-that-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-it/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [I'd had episodes before, but I swept them under the carpet. This time, I couldn't do that because everyone knew. I got on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-d-had-episodes-before-but-i-swept-them-under-the-carpet-this-time-i/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [I was hit by a car. I almost died. My show was taken away from me. I was frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-brennan/i-was-hit-by-a-car-i-almost-died-my-show-was-taken-away-from-me-i-was/) [Eileen Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-brennan/) > [With \*NSYNC, we shopped our deal for a year in America, sang a capella in everybody's office, then moved to Germany for almost two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jc-chasez/with-nsync-we-shopped-our-deal-for-a-year-in-america-sang-a-capella/) [JC Chasez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jc-chasez/) Browse all 1,672 Almost quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and somewhat reserved person. 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