The story of trying to live up to the myth is more interesting than the myth itself. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
If you realize early what your influence is, you can have a better understanding of what you are writing about. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
I liked Shakespeare in high school, but in university I spent a semester studying in London, and it was sort of in the middle of me falling deeply in love with literature, and I took a Shakespeare course with a professor who couldn’t imagine anything more important than Shakespeare. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
While Shakespeare wasn’t the first voice in the room, in North America and Europe, he’s one of the loudest voices. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
I think so much of young adult literature sort of gets ghettoized – the title ‘young adult’ makes people immediately discount it. And just like with books that get written for adults, there is plenty of young adult literature that is bad. But there is also plenty of young adult literature that is brilliant. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
My daughters are both funny and smart and lots of fun. They play lacrosse, soccer, musical instruments, like to cook with me, and are naturals in the swimming pool. Honestly, though, what I like doing most with them is eating. I’ve worked really hard to make sure they are willing to try all sorts of different foods. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
I’ve said many times that there only two things to write about: love and death. And when you have children, you remember that the world is full of sharp corners and dangerous things, and suddenly you have these small, soft creatures, which you love in almost painful way. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
There is a huge tension in trying to write with small children because they demand your attention and your time with a fierceness that can be matched by nothing else, but if you are successful in writing while you have small children, I actually think that your writing is likely to be deeper than it was before. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
As much as I love my daughters, I wasn’t happy with only being a stay-at-home-dad, and my wife encouraged me to try, to really try, at being a writer. More than anything, I didn’t want to let her down. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
If you don’t try your hardest, and you’re unsuccessful, you always have that excuse. Alexi Zentner Read Quote
