Of course, I didn't imagine then that I could have had a real relationship with any guy. I thought that by virtue of being me I was disqualified.

Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a waste of time.

Probably I, like a lot of people, became a writer in imitation of or in homage to the books I enjoyed. When you're so captivated by something, you think, could I do that? Hmm, let me try

We all make mistakes, don't we? But if you can't forgive yourself, you'll always be an exile in your own life.

People who think my books are autobiographical, which they're not, credit me with having a much better memory than I do. I do, however, have a powerful imagination

I don't really have special rituals, but I don't try to write fiction unless I have a minimum of a few hours. For me, it takes a while to settle into a mode where I'm truly concentrating

We have to make mistakes, its how we learn compassion for others

I always worried someone would notice me, and then when no one did, I felt lonely.

Obviously the bar is much higher now for a behavior to be scandalous. Social media has really changed the way people live. It's not a new impulse; it's just being enacted in a new way.

I don't think it's shameful to admit that some days your time can be better spent reading than writing.

I have this theory that the likeability question comes up so much more with female characters created by female authors than it does with male characters and male authors

Joy is not a denial of painful circumstances, but a certainty that He is at work while we are in them. EL

Then a lightning bolt shot straight through my skivvies. Sha-ZAM!

A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.

Grab a chance and you won't be sorry for a might-have-been.

You won't regret the men you never killed, but you will regret the women you passed up.

Twitter is a lot like crystal meth, because it's really fun to do and Oprah's on it.

That's the great thing about plankton. It pretty much keeps to itself.

I grew up in East Flatbush in Brooklyn which was an intense neighbourhood filled with different West Indian cultures.

The work of a garden bears visible fruits-in a world where most of our labours seem suspiciously meaningless.

I try to shut my brain down as much as possible. And let the melodies flow, if possible.