I now can be sure that, once I start writing a book, I'll be able to finish it. I've also become more assured about my 'voice' as a writer and being able to keep the characters true to themselves.

my major form of exercise is jumping to conclusions.

There are old riders and bold riders, but no old bold riders.

When I began writing, the words that inspired me were these: A writer is someone who has written today. If you want to be a writer, whats stopping you?

Jealousy is an emotion. It doesn't have to make sense. In fact, it usually doesn't.

Give the girl an inch and she thinks she's a ruler.

A writer is someone who has written something today

When you have an important story to tell, the words you need seem to come of their own accord.

Beyond a certain point, that was all a mother could do for her children - Hang around long enough to drive them crazy.

As I get older, the things I'm sure of become fewer.

I've been writing for a long time. I sat down to write my first novel in the middle of March of 1982.

We always vilify what we don't understand.

As you can imagine, those who had fallen this far had been so worn down by their tortures in the seven other hells that they no longer had the strength to cry out.

Now everything is sold on the Internet and anybody at all who doesn't know a thing can give their opinion.

The name America has definitely grown on me. I wish there was a big patriotic story behind it, but the truth is that my grandfather was a librarian who knew all sorts of random facts.

I am a person of faith: I am a person who will believe practically anything on no evidence at all.

Politics is a romantic search for the good and the true and the beautiful.

The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm

The almost insoluble task is to let neither the power of others, nor our own powerlessness, stupefy us.

I can't control the naysayers. I can control my attitude and work ethic and determination and that's what I'm focused on now.

Dreaming in public is an important part of our job description.