Quotes from Caroline Lawrence

Of the two 'True Grits,' the John Wayne version one is better.

Like every child growing up in America, I read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Huckleberry Finn.' I liked them well enough, but I didn't love them.

When someone talks about Western films, you probably think of those old black and white cowboy films your granddad likes. But the Western is a wonderful genre because it is usually a story of a lone hero fighting against corruption in a dangerous world.

Aim to write for an hour per day. I used to be a teacher, and an hour a day before school was all it took for me to write my first book. Don't get discouraged if a holiday or illness interrupts your writing habit. Just start it up again.

I thought it might be fun to set my books in Nevada, which is in the West and still pretty Wild. You can still gamble, carry a loaded pistol, and go into a silver-mine, and they still have saloons with swinging doors, boardwalks, and horses.

To create a character who really interests you, try combining aspects of your favourite fictional character with a real person.

I write about times and places I would visit in a time machine, like ancient Rome or the Wild West.

After I had written seventeen full-length mysteries, two volumes of mini-mysteries, a travel guide and some quiz books, not to mention a spin-off Roman Mystery Scrolls series, I thought it was time I moved to new historical pastures.

I wanted to know if the 'Iliad' in the original was as relevant and contemporary as it was in translation. I then started Latin. I had finally found something I enjoyed and was good at: dead languages!

As Nubia played the flute, it was if her finger tips caressed each one of those she loved, those whom she would never see again

As the music took wings and began to soar, a movement caught Flavia's eye

The music guided Jonathon back. The notes of the flute were cool and clear: silver, green and blue. The lyre was sweet and warm: honey, damson, and cherry. The drum move the sounds of the two instruments together, into a carpet of many colours. This musical carpet slipped under him and supported him and lifted him with with joy. Suddenly Jonathon was flying. Flying on the music. he was flying over silk. Wrinkled, indigo-blue silk.

When Venalicius had carried her far across the Land of Blue to the Land of Red, the only familiar thing had been the stars in the sky. At Flavia's house she had slept in the inner garden with Scuto, comforted by his furry warmth and by the familiar constellations overhead. But tonight she could see no stars. Tonight there was nothing to remind her of home and who she had been.

It was a beautiful blue afternoon, and as the day cooled, the port was coming to life. Venus' breath had whipped up the sea beyond the river mouth and it was a deep sapphire colour. The sails of the ships moving to and fro on the water made triangles of white and yellow against the blue.

It was a perfect summer evening. The warmth of the late afternoon sun had released all the scents of the garden and a sea breeze touched the leaves just enough to make them tremble. The sky was lavender and the garden was a deep green, filled with cool shadows.

My body might not be ready for love,' she sighed, 'but my heart is.

To a peaceful August in Pompeii, then, saaid Flavia's father, and raised his cup in a toast. Pompeii, they all echoed, and raised their wine cups.

good looks aren't enough. Skill is the most important thing. Skill and talent.

And Aristo – the storyteller – lost in the music. Nubia hadn't told him that the song was about him; she had been too shy. His curly head was down but she could see his thick eyelashes and as she watched his fingers moving swiftly over the strings, a huge wave of affection washed over Nubia. The music which had arisen in her heart now flowed back to her from him. He and the music were one. And because she loved the music, she loved him, too.

Everything in Pulchra's house is fabulously expensive

Some people call camel "ship of the desert". I have named our camel Selene, because she is pale like the moon. She is very good. You will become used to her soon.

I loved every minute of my three years majoring in classics at Berkeley.

I love reading books because... 1. books teach you how to live. 2. books teach you how to love. 3. books encourage you and give you hope. 4, books lift you up when you are down. 5. books take you to places and times you could never otherwise visit

All the wealth in the world is no good if you don't have a family.