Fire isn't always an element of destruction. Classical alchemical doctrine teaches that it also has dominion over another province: change.

... They paid some madman who thought he was a decorator a lot of money to make the place look hip and unique. May be it's my lack of fashion sense talking, but I thought they should have held out for one of those gorillas who has learned to paint. The results would have been of similar quality, and they could have paid in fresh produce. - Harry Dresden, Small Favor, Jim Butcher

Hope is a force of nature. Don't let anyone tell you different.

When a young writer comes up to me with an ambitious idea for a 20-book series, I usually tell him to maybe try something smaller to start off with.

Everything was perfectly healthy and normal here in Denial Land.

I can't believe I'm about to say this," I said. "So think real careful about where this is coming from. Have you people ever considered *talking* when you've got a problem?

If I need you I'll give you a signal.' What signal?" I'll imitate the scream of a terrified little girl