Anne McCaffrey

“Step by stepMoment by momentWe live throughAnother day”

“I think the Internet, particularly the availability of information, is great. I do a lot of correspondence on-line and have a chat line to talk to my fans as well.”

“Fight only in direst needNot for lust or petty greedHonor those that do give birthRespect them well for their full worth”

“I wouldn't encourage new writers to start off publishing through electronic media... it still isn't wide enough for the readership they would need to get a good start.”

“I don't often reread my own books, unless I am going into another in the series and need to refresh my mood when originating the concept.”

“I have always used emotion as a writing tool. That goes back to me being on the stage.”

“What I used to do between writing fits was feed my kids, ride my horse and go shopping for cat and dog food.”

“A good story is a good story no matter who wrote it.”

“There's something wrong in not appreciating one's own special abilities, my girl. Find your own limitations, yes, but don't limit yourself with false modesty.”

“all the time complaining at me that she could have had a career dancing topless at the Orbital Grill and Rendezvous Parlor. Her and her perky breasts. Yasmin, I told her, all the girls have perky breasts in zero-g, you were nothing special, you’re lucky a good man took you away from all that.”

“A real scientist solves problems, not wails that they are unsolvable.”

“Make no judgements where you have no compassion.”

“The AI told her not long ago that her "Why?" period might have been the shortest on record - because Mum and Dad answered every "Why?" in detail AND made sure she understood, so she wouldn't ask that particular "Why?" again. After a month "Why?" wasn't fun anymore, and she went on to other things.”

“I'm 78, I'm on my pension in Ireland, and all that good stuff.”

“That's what writing is all about, after all, making others see what you have put down on the page and believing that it does, or could, exist and you want to go there.”

“I have a shelf of comfort books, which I read when the world closes in on me or something untoward happens.”

“People have freaked out when I tell them that my dragons are scientifically based... what else can you call a genetically engineered life form?”

“I have written my own screen version of Pern, but had no buyers yet.”

“I didn't raise Todd to be a writer, but he happened to be one anyway.”

“My nightly craft is winged in white, a dragon of night dark sea.Swift born, dream bound and rudderless, her captain and crew are me.We've sailed a hundred sleeping tides where no seaman's ever beenAnd only my white-winged craft and I know the wonders we have seen.”