He thought about the story his daughter was living and the role she was playing inside that story. He realized he hadn't provided a better role for his daughter. He hadn't mapped out a story for his family. And so his daughter had chosen another story, a story in which she was wanted, even if she was only being used. In the absence of a family story, she'd chosen a story in which there was risk and adventure, rebellion and independence.

Great stories move through fear.

Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will.

When you write, you're alone in a room. And when someone reads a book, they're alone in a room, too, usually. It's a really intimate exchange. And so people ask me where I get the boldness to talk about this or that, but I didn't feel like it required any sort of courage, because I was alone. Sometimes it feels weird for people to read it.

I love writing books - I really do. If I could just quit everything and work on a book every day, I would love that most.

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself.

We don't need as much as we have. Hardly any of us need as much money as we have. It's true what they say about the best things in life being free.