Inspiration - Maeve Binchy...

Maeve Binchy passed away earlier this week - she was, and will remain, one of my favorite authors. I think this quotes explains why I've read almost every book she's written:

We're nothing if we're not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself, that has to be the most important thing in life, really. And I think we are all striving for it in different ways. I also believe very, very strongly that everybody is the hero/heroine of his/her own life. I try to make my characters kind of ordinary, somebody that anybody could be. Because we've all had loves, perhaps love and loss, people can relate to my characters.

And I love this quote - as many question the romance genre or classify it as 'beach reads', Ms Binchy hits the nail on the head:

I was very pleased, obviously, to have outsold such great writers. But I'm not insane - I do realize that I am a popular writer who people buy to take on vacation.

Those 'beach reads' are what's selling and will continue to sell as we all look for some escapism and entertainment in our lives.

She even inspires the writer in us all:

The important thing is to realise that everyone is capable of telling a story. it doesn't matter where we were born or how we grew up...

As for the 'read almost every book', I see from her website: http://www.maevebinchy.com/ (an excellent inspirational quote on her home page, if you're interested) that she wrote a book for writers, The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club. Must get my hands on that.

Maeve Binchy - you will be missed.