Loving the 'conversation' between writer and reader

“Thecraft of writing is all the stuff that you can learn through school; go toworkshops and read books. Learn characterization, plot and dialogue and pacingand word choice and point of view. Then there's also the art of it which issort of the unknown, the inspiration, the stuff that is noncerebral.” –Garth Stein

 

Bornin Los Angeles on this date in 1964, Stein is the author of The Art ofRacing in the Rain, which has sold more than 4 million copies in 35languages, and spent more than three years on the New York Timesbestseller list.    

 

Stein’scareer actually began in films where he was a documentary filmmaker directing, 
editing and/or producing several award-winning films, including TheLunch Date and The Last Party.   

 

Alsoco-founder of the nonprofit Seattle7Writers – dedicated to energizing readers and writersand their communities by providing funding, programming and donations of free books– he has written several novels and children’s books as well as more screenplays.  His latest novel is A Sudden Light.

 

“I'ma writer because I love reading,” he said.  “I love the conversation between a reader anda writer, and that it all takes place in a book – sort of a neutral ground.  A writer puts down the words, and a readerinterprets the words, and every reader will read a book differently. I lovethat.”