Rhea
asked
Cornelia Funke:
hi cornelia!!! Inkheart has become a part of my heart now, after reading it! I just wanted to ask you that have all the characters from the sweet but brave meggie to strong Mo and even Silvertongue , been inspired from the real world? Your family ? or even you?
Cornelia Funke
Dear Rhea,
the longer I write the more I believe that we cannot imagine anything that is not inspired by the breathtaking beauty and darkness of the world that surrounds us. I prefer when I don't notice who inspired me for a character though ( sometimes I notice years later:) but my son Ben for example loves to be in a book - while my daughter Anna prefers to get a dedication (she is also my first and best editor) I sometimes use paintings or old photos as inspiration for characters. For MirrorWorld for example I look at photo albums from the 19th century stealing the faces of the Dead one could say, and giving them new lives behind the Mirrors:) I try to not use actors as inspiration as I did that twice( with Bob Hopkins and with Brendan Fraser) and it got really complicated when I became friends with Brendan and constantly had to remind myself that Mo is different!:) So...stay away from actors as models:)
the longer I write the more I believe that we cannot imagine anything that is not inspired by the breathtaking beauty and darkness of the world that surrounds us. I prefer when I don't notice who inspired me for a character though ( sometimes I notice years later:) but my son Ben for example loves to be in a book - while my daughter Anna prefers to get a dedication (she is also my first and best editor) I sometimes use paintings or old photos as inspiration for characters. For MirrorWorld for example I look at photo albums from the 19th century stealing the faces of the Dead one could say, and giving them new lives behind the Mirrors:) I try to not use actors as inspiration as I did that twice( with Bob Hopkins and with Brendan Fraser) and it got really complicated when I became friends with Brendan and constantly had to remind myself that Mo is different!:) So...stay away from actors as models:)
More Answered Questions
Emm
asked
Cornelia Funke:
What inspires you to keep writing? I love writing and hope to become a writer of fantasy someday. But what really draws me in, is why? Why do you do it? I do it because it pulls me in and lets me put whatever I want onto paper. It makes me feel... magical, in a way. But does every writer feel that magic while writing, or is that just me? Thank you!
Amelie
asked
Cornelia Funke:
Wait... WHAT?! I am freaking out right now!!! There's gonna be a sequel to Inkheart?! I just read the "Are there going to be any more books" question and was like "Haha, you wish!". Then I saw the answer and nearly had a heart attack! Please tell me, you weren't joking when you said this! Because Inkheart is still one of my favorite MG/YA series and this... this is just a dream come true.
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