- Interviewer: So, I thought we could start off by touching on the inspiration behind the novel. What exactly is it that drew you to tell this story?
- J.M. Sinclair: I know writers who obsess, "how do I say something original?" "Am I saying something unique?" I'm sorry, there are no new ideas. Most writers are reconciled to the fact - and, if they're not, they pretty soon will be.
- J.M. Sinclair: If I knew where the ideas came from, I'd have written and have, in deed, been paid a helluva lot more than I have. Bearing in mind that I've been prolific and not badly off. The short answer is: I don't know.
- J.M. Sinclair: Writers tend to say they're a morning person or an evening kind of writer. I don't subscribe to that. If you're writing, you're writing. It's as simple as that.
- J.M. Sinclair: It's not something that can be deferred or denied, if you have to do it. Which, by the way, is the prerequisite for writing. You don't have a choice in the matter. You *must* write.
- J.M. Sinclair: Music!
- Bertie Sinclair: We heard Rachmaninoff yesterday.
- J.M. Sinclair: Give me three good reasons not to lesson to him today and - I'll change my mind.
- J.M. Sinclair: Now, average writers attempt originality. They fail, universally. Good writers have the sense to follow from their betters. The greats - the great writers: steal.
- Hélène Sinclair: You'll report to me, at the end of every lesson, about Bertie's progress. Come and find me.
- J.M. Sinclair: Friends, family, there must be sacrifice. When you embark upon a novel and begin that communion with yourself, you are alone - armed only with your craft and, hopefully, your talent.
- J.M. Sinclair: If you're serious about doing this, you must bear one thought cheerfully in mind whenever you put pen to paper, whenever you read, eat, drink, *fuck*, whatever, one thought, one simple one: good writers - borrow.
- Hélène Sinclair: We don't talk about his work. We don't talk about Felix. Follow those rules and you should be fine.
- J.M. Sinclair: You signed the agreement. A great shame to break your bond now. I so loath dealing with lawyers.
- Liam Somers: That's years of work.
- J.M. Sinclair: Really? How frustrating. Then again, I'll never get back the hours I spent reading it. We needn't waste any more time.
- J.M. Sinclair: Words, I chose, because I believe they bore witness to a truth beyond fiction. Because, when strung together, they call unto a music only I can hear, resolve some conflict *raging* within me. Who owns them? They belong to whoever choses to read them. And since we are the words we write, so do we, finders fucking keepers.
- Liam Somers: The ending. I wrote the ending. You have to give me that. I wrote the *fucking* ending.