It's an amazing thing to watch a lizard fold a moth into its mouth, like a sword swallower who specialises in umbrellas. Elizabeth McCracken amazefoldlizard Change image and share on social
I always want the last line to be really good, which may sound silly, but I want it to be a last pleasing line. Elizabeth McCracken goodlineplease Change image and share on social
Ordinarily, I'd claim that I'd never write directly about my children, but the opening conversation of 'Peter Elroy' is a verbatim conversation that my children had that I just loved: morbid, funny, passionate, and obsessed with the truth of things - all natural qualities of children that I'd like my work to contain. Elizabeth McCracken childclaimconversation share on social
You believe in God or statistics or the way your narrative differs from other people. Elizabeth McCracken differgodnarrative Change image and share on social
There are two MFA programs here at the University of Texas, and I read on the jury of both of them. And it's amazing to me how many really talented young writers seem to fear humor. Elizabeth McCracken amazefearhumor Change image and share on social
When you've lost a baby, everyone around you expects you to be fine once the new baby is born, as though that somehow takes away the pain of losing the first child. I needed to express how wrong that was. Elizabeth McCracken babybearchild share on social
I have children, and this notion - that there might be a single book that introduces children to literature - terrifies me. But you could do worse than Mary Norton's 'The Borrowers.' I loved it as a kid, and my kids love it, too. Elizabeth McCracken badlybookborrower share on social
I'm astounded by people who can listen to music when they write. I can only assume that they have multi-track brains, while mine is decidedly single. Elizabeth McCracken assumeastoundbrain Change image and share on social
Vilnius was once known as 'The Jerusalem of Lithuania' because of the number of prayer houses and scholars there; in the first half of the 20th century, it became a center of Yiddish-language scholarship. Elizabeth McCracken 20thcentercentury share on social
I've always been absolutely appalling about the future, but I sort of think that was my childhood religion. We were future deniers. You did your best in the present, which was all around you. Elizabeth McCracken absolutelyappallchildhood Change image and share on social