But what we are given is taken as well, so that we know God's glory comes to us from His will alone.

She can feel his blood, just beneath his skin; when he breathes, the air fills with smoke. He's like a dragon, ancient and fearless.

You can try to take sorrow and make it into something enduring, meaningful and beautiful. I always feel guilty that this is my job, that I get to do this

After a while, the characters I'm writing begin to feel real to me. That's when I know I'm heading in the right direction

Let everyone see the blood,' he said. 'Don't clean it up. That's the only way people remember.'... I could see the blood inside my head. It was with me forever, whether or not I wanted to forget.

But most important of all, she explained that it was all right to say 'No. I disagree.' that was a gift. I understood it was power. The power to think my own thoughts. The power to believe in myself.

Good fortune can take forever to get to you, but as it turns out, sorrow is as quick as a shot.