My work is very dear to me, and certainly I have had all the emotional highs and lows that go with trying to get it to an audience. But I do have some kind of detachment that seems somewhat unusual in my trade. I'm a writer who writes every day. I don't have a period of months where I can't get anything done and I wander around tearing my hair out. When I come back from a book tour, for instance, I might have one day where I sleep late and then check my e-mail, and then go for a walk, and then the next day I'm really itching to get back at writing a story.

the table of elements does not contain one of the most powerful elements that make up our world, and that is the element of surprise.

I'm not a stranger," I said, and pointed to his book. "I'm someone who reads the same authors you do.

Everyone tells you it's all right to cry, but not enough people say it's all right if you don't want people to know.

...everyone was right about you- prove them wrong.

Well-read people are less likely to be evil.

It is not always the job of people shouting outside impressive buildings to solve problems. It is often the job of the people inside, who have paper, pens, desks, and an impressive view.