Why do you keep reading a book? Usually to find out what happens. Why do you give up and stop reading it? There may be lots of reasons. But often the answer is you don't care what happens. So what makes the difference between caring and not caring? The author's cruelty. And the reader's sympathy...it takes a mean author to write a good story.

I was born singing. Most babies cry, I sang an aria.

Hush Hattie!" I said, intoxicated with my success. "I don't want to go to my room. Everyone must know I shan't marry the prince." I ran to the door to our street, opened it, and called out into the night, "I shan't marry the prince." I turned back into the hall and ran to Char and threw my arms about his neck. "I shan't marry you." I kissed his cheek. He was safe from me.

When I write, I make discoveries about my feelings.

And so, with laughter and love, we lived happily ever after.

If beginnings terrify you, or if you just plain don't like writing them, or if they bore you, skip 'em.

I want to be with you forever and beyond.