But in spite of my great desire for intimacy, I've always been a loner. Perhaps when the longing for connection is as strong as it is in me, when the desire is for something so deep and true, one knows better than to try. One sees that this is not the place for that.

My inside self and my outside self used to match. A compass needle pointed true north. Now the needle spins around and around indicating the sad direction of nowhere.

As far as I'm concerned, the most important thing you need when inventing characters is empathy.

I would make an anonymous call and say, this is someone who cares, do you know what kind of children you have?

You are always in my thoughts. When you were little, I knew your whereabouts at any given moment. Now that you are...off on your own, I still always know where you are, because I keep you in my heart.

As a writer, you should have a sticky soul; the act of continually taking things in should be as much a part of you as your hair color.

There is love in holding and there is love in letting go.