He then proceeded to shout at Alpha and Beta, a sign that he was in a genuine good mood. They took it as calmly as ever, in spite of the fact that he accused them of things I'm sure no donkey has ever willingly done, especially not Beta, who possessed impeccable moral character.

It gets tiresome being spoken to as if you are a child, even if you happen to be one.

I do this so you cannot help but hear. A wise man views a moonless night with fear.

For me, language is something that I've always loved. When I read, that's what I look for. When I write, that's what I strive for.

Feel free to call me by my first name: Master.

The good thing about working on the books for 14 years before they hit the shelves is that I worked out most of the kinks long before they were published.

All stories are true,” Skarpi said. “But this one really happened, if that’s what you mean.” He took another slow drink, then smiled again, his bright eyes dancing. “More or less. You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.