There’s a long pause. But it’s not a bad pause, because Mik is looking at me like I’m the treasure from the high shelf that someone’s just taken down and put into his hands. I find I don’t mind being looked at like this. I don’t mind it at all.

Don't I deserve to finally be free of you?

Nothing made you feel so useless as another person's grief.

Dialogue is the place that books are most alive and forge the most direct connection with readers. It is also where we as writers discover our characters and allow them to become real.

When you are young, hone your craft and write shorter pieces instead of novels, because it's really hard to finish a novel.

Thank you, but we respectfully decline your overture, being more enjoyably occupied at present.

She had a sadness that was so deep, but it still could turn to light in a second, and when I saw her smile I wondered what it would be like to make her smile. I thought... I thought it would be like the discovery of smiling.