Your protagonist is your reader’s portal into the story. The more observant he or she can be, the more vivid will be the world you’re creating. They don’t have to be super-educated, they just have to be mentally active. Keep them looking, thinking, wondering, remembering.

I couldn't imagine owning beauty like my mothers. I wouldn't dare.

Writing mirrors the interior self. You know, any book is like the perfect blueprint of the psyche of the author.

Find someone who will tremble for your touch, someone whose fingers are a poem.

Panic was the worst thing. When you panicked, you couldn't see possibilities. Then came despair.

this was the wonderful thing about strangers. they were big blank pieces of paper, you could draw watever you like on their impresionable surfaces

I wanted to tell her not to entertain despair like this. Despaire wasn't a guest, you didn't play its favorite music, find it a comfortable chair. Despair was the enemy." -white oleander