Of course, an exhausting day at sail lines and nets left little energy to expend on running or laughing. Perhaps that was why her parents couldn't appreciate her music - it wouldn't appear to be hard work to them. Menolly shook her hands, letting them flap from her wrists. They ached and trembled from the constricted movements and tension of an hour of intensive playing. No, her parents would never understand that playing musical instruments could be as hard work as sailing or fishing.

But I will say that living in Ireland has changed the cadence and fullness of speech, since the Irish love words and use as many of them in a sentence as possible

I think writers need windows on a view to remind them that a whole world is out there, not the minutiae with which they might be dealing on a close scale

I don't often reread my own books, unless I am going into another in the series and need to refresh my mood when originating the concept

A real scientist solves problems, not wails that they are unsolvable.

The blackest night must end in dawn, the light dispel the dreamer's fear.

Make no judgments where you have no compassion.