Egypt loved the lotus because it never dies. It is the same for people who are loved.

I got nice rejections explaining that historical fiction was a difficult sell. But I kept trying.

When a shy person smiles, it’s like the sun coming out.

I could not get my fill of looking. There should be a song for women to sing at this moment or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name that moment.

The more a daughter knows the details of her mother's life [...] the stronger the daughter.

It's a good thing babies don't give you a lot of time to think. You fall in love with them and when you realize how much they love you back, life is very simple.

The other reason women wanted daughters was to keep their memories alive.