INTERVIEW WITH CORNELIA FUNKE

INTERVIEW WITH MS. CORNELIA FUNKE – (bestselling author of the Inkheart trilogy)

·      Does writing hold a special place in your life?

I couldn’t live without itJ It is chocolate for me, what I was born to do, a never ending pleasure.

·      Have you always wanted to be a full time writer? Did have other ambitions when you were younger?

I wanted to be an astronaut at the age of 11 (they had just landed on the moon) then a pilot, I wanted to live with the Native Americans…in short, I wanted adventure, dreaming about it while I lived in a small town in Germany. My life became very adventurous, but in very unexpected ways – which is the magic of life: that it surprises us at every corner. We just have to dare to walk through the doors it opens for us. My first profession was as a social worker as I wanted to work with children and make the world a bit better, then I became an illustrator and only at the age of 32 did I realize that my greatest passion (and talent) is writing. Now I support many children’s charities in the world and the circle is closedJ

·      Could you please tell us about your visit to India?

My visit to India felt first of all (very surprising) like coming home. And at the same time like one of the greatest adventures I had ever had. I dreamt of visiting India since I was a child and to see India readers knowing my stories was the greatest possible magic. I also love dto meet all the traditional story tellers in your part of the world. I so admire their craft. I hope I”ll be back soon and many times!

·      What was the inspiration behind your bestselling novel, Inkheart?

That I wanted to show in a story what all passionate readers know- that characters in books are as real as we are…after all maybe we are all in a story?:) And I wanted to write a love song for books and all the people who love and need them as much as I do. And then of course I wanted to climb into a book myselfJ

·      Do you relate to the novel in any way?

I think my last answer shows that. Books always meant the doors and windows to the world to me, a chance to travel in other people’s head. I can’t live without books. And stories.

·      Do you consider someone as you idol?

My first idol was Astrid Lindgren, the Swedish children’s books writer.

·      Are there books that influence you or are powerful enough to grasp your attention for a longer time as compared to other books?

My all time favourite book is THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING by T.H.White. But there are many others I love very much: John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Saul Bellow’s Henderson, the rain king, R.L.Stevenson’s Treasure Island…and many many more.

·      When did you actually start writing?

·      At the late age of 28.

·      How did the process of turning ‘inkheart’ into a major movie initiate? Was it as exciting as it looks or is there more hard work involved?

It was very exciting ( I had offers from three movie studios) and at the same time it taught me that a novel cannot be squeezed into a two hour movie. I usually work for two years on a book – too much story to fit into a movie. I am glad George R.R. Martin allowed SONGS OF ICE AND FIRE only as tv series. I didn’t allow my new series, MirrorWorld to be adapted as a movie yet because of this experience. Although the shoot of Inkheart was magicalJ

·      What is the most ambitious dream you have ever had?

To write a better book than the last oneJ

·      You’re also a fantastic artist- we’ve seen the small, yet incredible illustrations in your novels. How is it that you manage to do both writing and art?

Sadly I don’t spend as much time on illustration as I should because I write so much. And sometimes I don’t know myself how I get it all doneJ I guess I love to do it all so much. Passion gives plenty of energy.

·      What form of expression do you consider better- writing or art?

I am a better writer, as I am more patient with the words than with the pen. But as an art form they are equal for me. And then there is of course music.

·      What led to your particular interest in books?

To be a bored child in a small town, where the world felt sooo narrow. The books were the promise that there is more!

·      Any message you would like to give to the aspiring authors and artists out there?

Follow your passion and make a living from it. Nothing can make you happier! Even if you can barely earn enough for the rent.  I worked like that for many many years and I never regretted my decision.


http://www.corneliafunke.com/