Writing is a craft, being an author is work, and having readers and a following is a gift.

Without imagination, writing is a stack of lumber, a sack of nails, and a locked tool shed.

When you believe you've become the best writer you can be… you still aren’t.

Discover everything about your characters that you can before you write your story. If you get stuck at any point, they will write your dialog for you.

Writing a novel is easy… writing checks is hard.

I like to think that when I complete a novel I learned something along the way.

Really, nobody was there?” I asked.“Well, nobody important, ” he said, putting his glasses back on and blinking.

Experience is the best teacher.

You start with a darkness to move throughbut sometimes the darkness moves through you.

I do desire we may be better strangers.

Yoga calms me down. It gives me energy and focus.

In your twenties, everything makes you crazy.

Classical music has been based on works people love and come back to for aural comfort.

He sounds like Jesus. Except rich and sexy.” “Watch it, Meg. In this town joking about Jesus could get you shot. You’ve never seen so many of the faithful who’re armed.

And you, whiner, who wastes your time Dawdling over the remorseless earth, What evil, what unspeakable crime Have you made your life worth?