The birds fly in the wrong places and there are too many stars in the sky.

It is, of course, traditional in children's literature to get rid of the parents.

McCain might have suffered hardships in his life, but what had happened to him had nothing to do with his background or his color; they were convenient excuses now. He had been a psychopath from the start.

Some things can't be changed. They'll always happen the way they were supposed to.

My writing has always been what you call 'narrative fiction' in the sense that it's got very strong plots and twists at the end.

Oh-do be careful with that! That's my Buddha hand grenade. Twist the head twice and throw it and anyone within ten yards can say their prayers.

Smiling back at her, it occurs to me that I've never met a mean librarian.