"I once knew a house rather like The Land of Smiles - an old house occupied by a varied collection of young people, mainly students. However none of these people were true models for the characters in the book, though their way of life may have been"

This quote by Margaret Mahy is a reflection on her own experience of living in a house with a group of youths. She is suggesting that although individuals she lived with were not always designs for the characters in her book, The Land of Smiles, their way of living might have been comparable. This quote talks to the concept that life can be a source of inspiration for art, and that individuals we satisfy and the experiences we have can shape our creative work. It likewise suggests that the people we deal with can have an extensive effect on our lives, even if they are not always models for our work. Mahy's quote is a reminder that our lives have lots of capacity for imagination which we ought to take the time to value individuals and experiences that shape us.