I have always loved 'Stig of the Dump.' I think reading that book made me officially realise that I was a reader.
What many people don't know about 'Peter Pan' is that it's a very violent book and Hook is one of the most finely observed villains ever.
I often meet frustrated young writers who say they've only got so far and just can't finish a book. Even if you don't happen to use what you've worked on that day, it has taught you something and you'll be amazed when you might come back to it and use it again.
I have a lovely office at the back of my house; it's an old stable and you can see right out to the countryside on one side and into the house on the other side.
I am perhaps unusual in that I came to 'Doctor Who' through the numerous novelisations and not through the television show.
The thing about reading is that if you are hooked, you're not going to stop just because one series is over; you're going to go and find something else.
When I went to school, I was already reading and writing. In fact, I was offended that the other kids couldn't.
I never tell anyone exactly how clever I am. They would be too scared.Collection: Clever
Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.Collection: Confidence
Dreams come true all the time, just not for the dreamersCollection: Funny
A CD. How quaint. We have these in museums.Collection: Technology
You know you're in trouble when your own imagination starts punishing you.Collection: Imagination
'Insanity... I like it."Collection: Life
A monkey glances up and sees a banana, and that's as far as he looks. A visionary looks up and sees the moon.Collection: Optimistic
Evolution is a theory with more holes than a Dutch dam of swiss cheese.Collection: Dams
There is no such thing as a happy ending. Every culture has a maxim that makes this point, while nowhere in the Universe is there a single gravestone that reads 'He Loved Everything About His Life, Especially the Dying Bit at the End'.Collection: Dying
Oh, I'm crazy all right. I do have plenty of psychoses. Multiple personality, delusional dementia, OCD. I've got them all, but most of all, I'm crazy about you.Collection: Crazy
No matter what dimension you're in, there's a big-headed male trying to take over the world.Collection: Men
Well, I don't like the first bit and I don't know the last bit. So I'm really hoping the middle bit is exceptional.Collection: Lasts
Ignorance, as they say, is usually fatal, but sometimes it can be bliss.Collection: Ignorance
Don't hate me forever, Arty," whispered Holly. "I couldn't bear that.Collection: Hate
Other men look up and down, left and right; but men like us are different. We are visionaries.Collection: Men
Trust me. I'm a genius.Collection: Genius
Nobody's death is impending." ..."Well technically everyone's death is impending.Collection: Wells
In my experience, boys are predictable. As soon as they think of something, they do it. Girls are smarter—they plan ahead. They think about not getting caught.Collection: Girl
If it looks like a Dwarf, and it smells like a Dwarf, then it's probably a Dwarf or a latrine wearing dungerees.Collection: Dwarves
The Theory of Evolution has more holes in it than a dam made out of Swiss cheese.Collection: Theory Of Evolution
I hear that you were on a date with Trouble Kelp. Are you two planning on building a bivouac any time soon?Collection: Two
When the moment comes, will you take your chance to be a hero?Collection: Hero
My truffles? You took them? That's just mean!Collection: Mean
Anything else, Butler?" "The cosh, sir.Collection: Butlers
Anything can be real. Every imaginable thing is happening somewhere along the dimensional axis. These things happen a billion times over with exactly the same outcome and no one learns anything. Whatever a person can think, imagine, wish for, or believe has already come to pass. Dreams come true all the time, just not for the dreamers.Collection: Dream
We lost the crickets.Collection: Lost
HOLLY: Are you suggesting I occasionally stray from the rule book? FOALY: No. I'm suggesting you do not own a copy of the rule book, and if you do, you have certainly never opened it.Collection: Book
I am so sick of you smart kids. Why can't you just boost cars or steal stuff like normal kids?' 'We do steal stuff. Just bigger stuff.Collection: Smart
Humans have a saying that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", which basically means that if you think it's beautiful, then it is beautiful. The elfin version of this saying was composed by the great poet B.O Selecta, who said "Even the plainest of the plain shall deign to reign", which critics have always thought was a bit rhymey. The dwarf version of this maxim is "If it don't stink, marry it", which is slightly less romantic, but the general gist is the same.Collection: Beautiful
Why can't I solve this problem by killing someone? she though petulantly, then comforted herself with the mantra that had kept her going in prison: "Soon all the humans will be dead," she said, droning in the time-honored fashion of gurus everywhere. "And then Opal will be loved." And even if I'm not loved, she thought, at least all the humans will be dead.Collection: Fashion
You need to stop thinking with your head, Mud Boy, and start thinking with your heart.” Artemis sighed. The heart was an organ for pumping oxygen-rich blood to the cells. It could no more think than an apple could tap-dance.Collection: Heart
Of course. Opal is toying with our emotions for her own gratification. Nothing more. She wishes to place herself in a position of power, emotionally.Collection: Position Of Power
Waitress: "And to drink?" Artemis: "Spring water. Irish, if you have it. And no ice, please. As your ice is no doubt made from tap water, which rather defeats the purpose of spring water.Collection: Spring
Artemis Fowl will never be secondary." "I thought you were Artemis Fowl the Second?" said Holly.Collection: Hollies
Holly clambered after him, struggling up the human-size steps. "Wait! Just wait," she called, overtaking Artemis and looking him in the eye from one step up. "I know you, Artemis. You like to play your genius card close to your chest until the big reveal. And that's worked out for us so far. But this time you need to let me in. I can help. So, tell me the truth, do you have a plan?" Artemis met his friend's gaze and lied to her face. "No," he said. "No plan.Collection: Struggle
Careful, Mr. Spiro, guns are dangerous. Especially the end with the hole.Collection: Gun
Artemis: How long will it take you to prepare the time spell? N1 chewed his knuckle: About as long as it takes you to take your clothes off. "Aaarrk," Artemis half choked.Collection: Clothes
Artemis: Holly, how did you find me? Holly: Oh, I saw a huge explosion and wondered: now, who could that be?Collection: Hollies
Yes, Chix, it's between us. Everyone has a right to be temporarily unstable. - FoalyCollection: Unstable
Hilarious, dude. You should, like, have your own show.Collection: Should
I am not exuding anything," said Holly through gritted teeth. Orion tapped her shoulder. "I beg to differ. You're exuding right now, a wonderful aura. It's pastel blue with little dolphins.Collection: Blue
Holly winked. 'Do I look like a fly boy to you, Fowl?' Artemis had to admit that she didn't. Captain Short was extremely pretty in a dangerous sort of way. Black-widow pretty. Artemis was expecting puberty to hit in approximately eight months, and he suspected that at that point he would look at Holly in a different light. It was probably just as well that she was eighty years old.Collection: Boys