Literary Birthday – 7 July – David Eddings

David Eddings was born 7 July 1931, and died 2 June 2009.

Quotes

1. Keep working. Keep trying. Keep believing. You still might not make it, but at least you gave it your best shot. If you don’t have calluses on your soul, this isn’t for you. Take up knitting instead.
2. I keep writing because it’s a habit. After fifty years or so I just can’t set it aside.
3. I hesitate to predict whether this theory is true. But if the general opinion of Mankind is optimistic then we’re in for a period of extreme popularity for science fiction. If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.
4. No day in which you learn something is a complete loss.
5. The unfortunate thing about working for yourself is that you have the worst boss in the world. I work every day of the year except at Christmas, when I work a half day.
6. When ignorance is bliss, there’s folly in wisdom.
7. I wrote a novel for my degree, and I’m very happy I didn’t submit that to a publisher. I sympathise with my professors who had to read it.
8. God save us from religion.
9. Once you’ve decided that something’s absolutely true, you’ve closed your mind on it, and a closed mind doesn’t go anywhere. Question everything. That’s what education’s all about.

David Eddings was an American fantasy writer. With his wife Leigh, he authored several best-selling epic fantasy novel series, including The Belgariad, The Malloreon, The Elenium, The Tamuli, and The Dreamers.

[Top Tip: Learn how to write fantasy. Buy The Fantasy Workbook]

by Amanda Patterson

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