A Goodreads user
asked
Cornelia Funke:
Hi Cornelia, another question. I always liked the idea of Fenoglio the writer as a character in the book, and then how we go into his written world - I love Chapter 13 of Inkspell when we see his viewpoint of this. Were you at all inspired by any books that do a similar thing, such as a writer of the world the book is set in, like Melquíades in 100 Years Of Solitude or anything else similar to that?
Cornelia Funke
No, I admit I didn't have Marques as inspiration there (though I do of course love love love his books) As I wanted Inkheart to be about books, I of course needed a writer as one of it's heroes. I based Fenoglio on Beppe Fenoglio, a short story writer from Liguria, who died much too young. And of course I made him my Alter Ego, when he thinks about writing. That he ends up in his own book was not something I planned - though looking back it of course had to happen:)
More Answered Questions
Catherine
asked
Cornelia Funke:
In your answer to a previous question about story elements you drew inspiration for from real-life things you said that "a fire eater in a market place" was one of them for Inkheart. In several different parts in Inkspell Fenoglio says he bases his characters off of real people (namely Mo). So, what I'm wondering is, who did he base Dustfinger off of, if anyone? And did that fire-eater you saw look like Dustfinger?
Lalu
asked
Cornelia Funke:
Hallo Frau Funke, erstmal vielen Dank für Ihre Bücher! Schon in der Grundschule waren Sie meine Lieblingsautorin und in den letzten fast 20 Jahren hat sich das nicht geändert. Ich greife immer noch gerne zu Igraine Ohnefurcht, Potilla oder Drachenreiter. Zu letzterem habe ich eine Frage: Warum heißt Lung im Englischen Firedrake? Mir scheint das ein viel zu aggressiver Name für den gutmütigen Lung... LG, Stella :)
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