He unscrewed the lid, set it on the dash, snorted from the bottle twice, banged the steering wheel, and said, 'You got to be ready to die every day - then you got a chance.'

Pine trees with low limbs spread over fresh snow made a stronger vault for the spirit than pews and pulpits ever could.

The opening novel of the 'Bayou Trilogy' was the first one I finished.

I felt like a number of things in me as a writer just clicked.

I said shut up once already, with my mouth.

Fading light buttered the ridges until shadows licked them clean and they were lost to nightfall.

Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.