"Eight Days of Luke" was refused by another confused publisher on the grounds that children shouldn't strike matches. When my agent pointed out that David in the book was twelve years old, the publisher said that he was striking matches to summon the devil, then, and this couldn't be allowed.
Diana Wynne JonesDoras II was a somewhat absentminded king, It is said, when Death came to summon him, Doras granted Death the usual formal audience and then dismissed him from his presence. Death was too embarrassed to return until many years later- Ka'a Orto'o, Gnomic Utterances
Diana Wynne JonesYes. I was looking for Lettie. They were both very kind to me,โ Percival said, โEven though theyโd never seen me before. And Wizard Howl kept visiting to court Lettie. Lettie didnโt want him, and she asked me to bite him to get rid of him, until Howl suddenly began asking her about you andโโ โwhat?โ he said, โ I know someone called sophie who looks a little like you.. And Lettie said, thatโs my sister,โ without thinking,โ Percival said. โ And she got terribly worried then, particularly as Howl went on asking about her sister.
Diana Wynne Jones