Barbara Mertz Quotes

United States, Writer
September 29, 1927 – August, 8, 2013.

Barbara Louise Mertz (September 29, 1927 – August 8, 2013) was an American author who wrote under her own name as well as under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. In 1952 she received a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. While she was best known for her mystery and suspense novels, in the 1960s she authored two books on ancient Egypt, both of which have remained in print ever since.

Also known as Archaeologist, Egyptologist, Author

I have no writing habit. I work when I feel like it, and I work when I have to - mostly the latter.

Barbara Mertz
- Work
- Writing
- Habit
I do, however, think it would be difficult to write books I don't like to read.

Barbara Mertz
- Think
- Write
- Difficult

I've been reading ghost stories ever since I could read. I'm immensely curious about ghosts and UFOs and all that stuff, but I'm a very hard-headed person.

Barbara Mertz
- Reading
- Curious
- Ghost
I am so tired of ruggedly handsome heroes. I don't know too many ruggedly handsome people who are necessarily nice people. In fact, the beautiful people have a big handicap because they rely too much on their appearance and don't bother to become interesting.

Barbara Mertz
Sometimes the characters develop almost without your knowing it. You find them doing things you hadn't planned on, and then I have to go back to page 42 and fix things. I'm not recommending it as a way to write. It's very sloppy, but it works for me.

Barbara Mertz
- Me
- Doing
- Page
Getting an idea for a book is not the problem, but you need 300 ideas - an idea a page.

Barbara Mertz
- Book
- Problem
- Ideas
I can do a book in three months if I spend all day, seven days a week at it and, in fact, I work better that way.

Barbara Mertz
- Work
- Book
- Day