I loved teaching. It was my world. I only left because I was overwhelmed with three careers - teaching, writing, and my family.

Anyone who has problems, or worries, anyone who laughs and cries, anyone who feels can write. It's only talking on paper... talking about the things that matter to us.

Revision is the heart of writing. Every page I do is done over seven or eight times.

To me, family is everything. I want children to realize how important their families are and what a support system a family is.

Everything in my life affects my writing. There are no separate parts of my life.

Many times in my life I've been upset about something and said to myself, "Will this matter in two years?" Not even in two months.

I myself was terrified during the Second World War. The war started when I was six, and I was so sure that we were going to be bombed and killed. My imagination is my biggest plus and my worst minus.

I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.

Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it's like breathing.

I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is going to happen in the book until it comes out of my fingers.

All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories kids would tell me in school.

The murder of a child has no justification, even if the bombs have missed their mark.

When you were in love, you knew no fear or hatred. When you were fearful, there was no possibility of love or hate. And when there was hate, there was only hate.

Carefully analyze the old stories that you choose to perpetually tell, for these are really life-long meditations.

A doctor is a patient

It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.

Let justice be done though the heavens fall.

Every business should have its biographer-not after its head is dead but to show that he's very much alive.

He came to a decision and looked at Dagon before climbing into the car. "Find the Disir." Dagon stiffened, showing a rare sign of emotion. "Is that wise?" he asked. "It is neccessary.

Ever since I turned 22, I've grown weaker. I think I'm going to die after riding a slide once.