When I'm creating characters, I definitely think of theme songs. Writing for me is very visual, so I sometimes think of it in terms of a movie with a soundtrack, and try to transfer that to words. Marisha Pessl charactercreatemovie Change image and share on social
Certainly one of the surprising truths of having a book published is realizing that your book is as open to interpretation as an abstract painting. People bring their own beliefs and attitudes to your work, which is thrilling and surprising at the same time. Marisha Pessl abstractattitudebelief share on social
In America, people of a certain age ask, 'Where were you when Kennedy was shot?' In my house you were more likely to be asked, 'Where were you when you first read 'The Catcher In The Rye?' Marisha Pessl ageamericaask Change image and share on social
I hate to think of a day where a compelling book or a compelling authorial voice would be lost simply because that person doesn't have a Web site. But I think that, to use the Internet in a positive way, to turn people on to reading, is something that authors shouldn't really shy away from necessarily. Marisha Pessl authorauthorialbook share on social
Occasionally when I'm procrastinating writing, I'll while away the hours on iTunes. You can just keep going forever and find these bands you'd never normally hear of. Marisha Pessl bandfindforever Change image and share on social
I haven't always been a writer and I suppose I tiptoed around the idea of writing full time, because it's so isolating. Marisha Pessl fullideaisolate Change image and share on social
I think every writer has a book that haunts them, and on some level, every book you write is a reaction to it. 'Lolita' is that book for me. Nabokov's love of wordplay, descriptive detail, artfully complex plots, and his themes of obsession and lost love, are inspiring. Marisha Pessl artfullybookcomplex share on social
I believe writers need to be chameleons, or like Meryl Streep, who can play all sorts of characters. A good writer should be able to cross gender lines and people of all social classes. So for me, writing from a male point of view would be a great challenge, that I would look forward to taking on. Marisha Pessl challengechameleoncharacter share on social
In college I studied '60s and '70s radicalism, student activism, forms of political violence, groups like the Weathermen, the Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army, the New Left. Marisha Pessl 60s70sactivism Change image and share on social
Good bands you can kind of lose, then come back and realize they're still good. Marisha Pessl backbandgood Change image and share on social