James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michenerwas an American author of more than 40 books, the majority of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Michener was known for the popularity of his works; he had numerous bestsellers and works selected for Book of the Month Club. He was also known for his meticulous research behind the books...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth3 February 1907
CountryUnited States of America
There are no insoluble problems. Only time-consuming ones.
Unless you think you can do better than Tolstoy, we don't need you
The really great writers are people like Emily Bront? who sit in a room and write out of their limited experience and unlimited imagination.
They were a group of two dozen nurses completely surrounded by 100,000 unattached American men.
It was the silent time before dawn, along the shores of what had been one of the most beautiful lakes in southern Africa.
I think the bottom line is that if you get through a childhood like mine, it's not at all bad. Obviously, you come out a pretty tough turkey, and you have had all the inoculations you need to keep you on a level keel for the rest of your life. The sad part is, most of us don't come out.
I have only one bit of advice to beginning writers: be sure your novel is read by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
I had been educated with free scholarships. I went to nine different universities, always at public expense, and when you have that experience, you are almost obligated to give it back. It's as simple as that.
As a writer I have persisted in my uncertainty, alternating between novels which could charitably be considered literature and world reporting which by another stretch of objective standards might be called history.
A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.
I've spent my life trying to be better than I was, and I am a brother to all who share the same aspiration.
I thought that perhaps the most creative mix for a society would be nine parts solid worker from institutions like MIT to one part poet from Marrakech, but in spite of the fact that I myself had been trained to be one of the solid workers, which meant that all of my sympathies lay with that group, I would not surrender the poet. The problem was to find him.
First buy a cowboy hat and boots. Then you're on your way to being a Texan.
The sense of belonging is one of the great gifts men get in battle.