My parents had never been to Germany. But I knew what I didn't want to write about, and I didn't want to write about Edinburgh. A lot of writers find Edinburgh fascinating, but I never did. As a matter of fact, I couldn't wait to get away from it. Philip Kerr edinburghfactfascinate share on social
The hardest thing is to write about people. First and foremost, you have to encounter their humanity. That is the only way you can make them live as characters on the page. Philip Kerr characterencounterforemost Change image and share on social
Sport crosses party lines and ethnic lines. It occupies a greater realm, and it's all the more disappointing when sports figures turn out to be like everyone else. Philip Kerr crossedisappointethnic Change image and share on social
The mark of a writer is to make a story as likely as possible, and I've done my best to deliver authentic atmosphere. Philip Kerr atmosphereauthenticdeliver Change image and share on social
I love sitting at my desk and facing a quiet day with a pen in my hand, and putting myself into a story. It's kind of weird, isn't it? I mean, to absent myself from real life and make up stories is strange, but I started doing this when I was ten years old. It was all I wanted to do. Philip Kerr absentdaydesk share on social
There's something weird about the Scots. We are a troubled, slightly tortured race - the sense of the respectable outward character and, inside, the turmoil of something darker. Philip Kerr characterdarkinside Change image and share on social
History asks us to imagine ourselves in a period, but it's a very different situation when you're in that period and faced with those situations. Philip Kerr askfacehistory Change image and share on social
All nationalism is based on racism and hate. I'm Scottish; I was born in Scotland, as my parents, as my grandparents. Philip Kerr basebeargrandparent Change image and share on social
James Bond was an early favourite, although I didn't understand much of it. I read the Bible a lot, too. You might say that this was my favourite, since I seemed to read it so often. Philip Kerr biblebondearly Change image and share on social
Scotland is the only case in the world where the poor part of a territory wants to separate from the rich part. If independence came, one option is to keep the pound as its currency, so that all economic decisions will continue to be taken by the Bank of England. Philip Kerr bankcasecontinue share on social
