After illustrating for several years, however, she began to lose interest in her job. Instead, she wanted to draw pictures for books that were exciting, books about dragons and adventure.
She recalled that one night, at the age of twenty-eight, she started to write her own story. The illustrator-turned-author did not suffer the usual trials of first-time writers.
She sent her manuscript out to four German publishing houses and all four wanted to publish it. A library book, I imagine, is a happy book. Funke's earliest books, most of which she illustrated herself, were short and aimed at younger readers of about eight years old. Her first longer, chapter book for older children was Drachenreiter Dragonrider , published in Germany in The book was a phenomenal success in Germany, but Funke was not satisfied.
She was determined to take a shot at the English-language market, where she knew her stories would have a chance to be read by a wider audience. With manuscript in hand, she made the rounds of the top English publishers. Several companies showed an interest, but at the same time the fates were actively at work at The Chicken House, a new book publisher in England.
The Chicken House was founded in by Barry Cunningham, who had a long career in publishing and was known for taking chances on new writers. In fact, it was Cunningham who first decided to publish the Harry Potter series after British author J. Rowling c. In this case, Funke did not go to Cunningham. Cunningham went looking for her, after he received a letter from an eleven-year-old girl in England named Clara, asking why her favorite author Cornelia Funke was not published in English.
Clara was bilingual, she spoke both German and English, so she had been enjoying Funke's books for several years. In many of her interviews, writer Cornelia Funke describes herself as a passionate reader. And, as she revealed in an AudioFile interview, one of her goals as an author is to "try to awaken the passion for reading in children and adults. Each chapter begins with a quote from a book, and there are references to books such as The Wind in the Willows by Scottish author Kenneth Grahame — sprinkled throughout the text.
In an article posted on the Guardian Unlimited Web site, Funke revealed her own "favourite bedtime stories," many of which are mentioned in Inkheart. Cunningham tracked down Funke's agent, read the manuscript, and immediately bought the English-language rights for Herr der Diebe and for Drachenreiter.
It sold out in just ten days, an unheard-of phenomenon for a children's book. Two years later Funke's story debuted in the United States. Critics heaped praise on The Thief Lord, calling it an immediate classic. Readers agreed, and the book reached the New York Times bestseller list, where it remained comfortably perched for twenty-five weeks.
It also won a slew of awards, including the prestigious Mildred L. Batchelder Award, which is presented annually by the American Library Association to the best book originally published in a foreign language and then translated and published in the United States. Rebecca Sinkler of the New York Times called the book a "love song to the city and its splendors. The many alleyways and canals of Venice were perfect for the story because, as Funke told Wyss, "there are hundreds of hiding places.
At the story's center are two orphans, twelve-year-old Prosper and his five-year-old brother, Bo, who run away from Hamburg to Venice because their aunt and uncle want to separate them. When they arrive in the strange city, they are taken in by a band of young pickpockets and thieves who are led by Scipio, the thirteen-year-old masked Thief Lord. The boys live comfortably enough with their new-found friends in an abandoned movie theater until they discover they are being tracked by an investigator hired by their aunt and uncle.
They also run into trouble when the gang is hired to steal a wooden horse's wing that long ago was broken off a magical carousel. The carousel has the power to make "adults out of children and children out of adults. Readers were spellbound by the many twists and turns in the plot of The Thief Lord, and Funke left her audience wanting more.
There is a gleam in Funke's eye when she talks about this book, which she believes to be one of her best efforts. As she explained in the Bookwrap video, she put the "blood of her heart" into writing it: "There are those people who love books and are greedy for books and the rustling of paper and the printed letter and I wanted to write about this. This lust for the printed word. And I think Inkheart is all about that.
The enchantment that comes from books. Cornelia Funke Goodreads Author. Learn more. To ask Cornelia Funke questions, please sign up. I don't know if anyone's asked this already and I don't know if you'll answer, but one thing that always bothered me about the ending of Inkdeath was that we never got to see what happened to Farid. Does he ever come back to visit Meggie or Dustfinger again? Does he become a famous fire-dancer? Cornelia Funke very famous, Dana. And he'll break the hearts of many girls traveling from village to village.
I am currently writing the sequel to the Inkworld-books …more very famous, Dana. I am currently writing the sequel to the Inkworld-books which is set five years later and will have you meet Farid again too. View all 27 comments. Rachel I can't wait either! I wish there was an update even if it's to say it will be another 5 years. I can't wait either! Rachel Ohh we do have an update!!!! Write a comment This is quite a silly question, but, I wondered: where did you get the inspiration for the loving relationship between Meggie and Mo?
Cornelia Funke Not silly at all! The inspiration was first my own relationship with my father, then Atticus and Scout in the original book: and finally Brendan Fra …more Not silly at all! The inspiration was first my own relationship with my father, then Atticus and Scout in the original book: and finally Brendan Fraser, who was my model for a character who is sometimes so boyish a father that his daughter Meggie does some mothering: less.
View 2 comments. See all answers from Cornelia Funke…. Combine Editions. Cornelia Funke Average rating: 3. Cornelia Funke Goodreads Author ,. Anthea Bell Translator.
Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Oliver Latsch translator. Series by Cornelia Funke. Inkworld 4 books by Cornelia Funke Goodreads Author. Reckless 5 books by Cornelia Funke Goodreads Author. Helena Ragg-Kirkby Translator. Cornelia is Currently Reading.
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