One of the great themes in American literature is the individual's confrontation with the vast open spaces of the continent.

If you are writing any book about the end of the world, what you are really writing about is what's worth saving about it.

Behind every writer stands a very large bookshelf.

My inventing time is all done under the influence of aerobic exercise. Basically, I do all my thinking while I run.

I grew up during the Cold War, when everything seemed very tenuous. For many years, right up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, I had vivid nightmares of nuclear apocalypse.

We live, we die. Somewhere along the way, if we're lucky, we may find someone to help lighten the load.

This ravishing world. This achingly bittersweet, ravishing world.

I have any number of completely dark obsessions and fascinations, and none of this was present in my profile or my growing profile as a writer.

What strange places our lives can carry us to, what dark passages.

My theory of characterization is basically this: Put some dirt on a hero, and put some sunshine on the villain, one brush stroke of beauty on the villain.

My rule has always been, write the next part of the book that you seem to know well. So I won't necessarily write chapter two after chapter one.

It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Never place yourself above your fellow man, for we are all, each and every one of us, born of equal rights to the nourishing earth beneath and the wonder of the stars above.

The solidarity - now, you can't challenge [Donald Trump] until he gets there [White House], but let me tell you, we are united. We are going to do our job.

I try to get to those peculiar and particular things that you never think of to say.

...primal people see the objects of this world not (or not only) as solid but as open windows to their divine source.

The future of rock n roll is Justin Bieber.

Hockey is my favorite because I'm from Michigan. I used to figure-skate and root for the Red Wings.

Nothing so clears the vision and lifts up the life, as a decision to move forward in what you know to be entirely the will of the Lord.

Now is now. Are you going to be here or not?

I learned how to stop crying. I learned how to hide inside of myself. I learned how to be somebody else. I learned how to be cold and numb.