"Steady as a three-legged stool."
Bernard MacLaverty is a Northern Irish fiction writer and novelist. His novels include Cal and Grace Notes. He has written five books of short stories.
"When they had come recruiting to his school - for fishers of men - all those years ago and had offered the glittering lures of sanctity and safety, Michael had jumped selflessly. It was a long time before the line pulled taut and he felt the pain of the hooks within him and the irony of the fisherman caught."
"Violence is a bit like antibodies. Small doses build up until you can reject and be immune to the most horrific events."
"We went on a school trip down the Rhine one summer and I saw a crucifixion that made all others pale for me. It was a painting. And it was the first thing like that which had any effect on me. I stood and stared at it for so long the teachers lost me and had to come back for me."
"You sit down to your desk and listen to whats inside your head. Things appear suddenly and unexpectedly. I dont mean its like inspiration or anything like that but, put it this way, you are there with a 3B pencil in your hand should you hear anything good. If you are in a notion of working, the idea takes root and wont let you go. It puts out twigs and branches. These twigs get leaves and thorns and maybe, if you are lucky, blossoms. And fruit. [...] The worst thing that can happen at a time like this is an interruption. When the interruption is over its very hard to get the same momentum going again."
"Theres not much money - if thats what you mean." "Approximately." "Once all the debts are paid there will be very little." "Nevertheless. Every little helps. The Brothers are sorely in need of it this weather."
"Cal, the world is full of gulpins who dont care who they hurt."