And every good artist knows that the gift comes from somewhere else, and it's there for a reason, and that's to make the world a better place.

Today, there are more opportunities for writers in terms of access to larger success, but it's more difficult to publish a literary novel in the lower ranges. In other words, you almost have to hit a home run. You can hit a triple, maybe, but nobody's interested in a single.

The system shaves the dice on the side of those with money and power, and anyone who believes otherwise deserves anything that happens to him.

I think all good narration contains an element of mystery and suspense. If it didn't, if the storyline were predictable, we would have no interest in reading it.

You do it a day at a time. You just put your rejection slips in a shoebox and tell yourself one day you're going to autograph them and sell them at auction.

A lie is an act of theft. It steals peoples faith and makes them resent themselves

Age is a clever thief. It takes a little from you each day, so you're not aware of your loss until it'd irreversible.