I try to impart this when people say they want to be a writer and they want to go into show biz. I say, "Well, have you taken any courses? You can't just have a passion for it; you have to prepare yourself for a life of it."

You could be a music prodigy at age 4, like Mozart, but you can't be a writing prodigy.

I do believe that the Mormon Church is at kind of an awakening, in two different ways: More people are becoming aware of it, and it's becoming a force to be reckoned with. There's a lot of Mormon converts globally.

When I was born there were still different drinking fountains you had to drink out of.

I don’t want to slam somebody else’s religion. I mean as a Catholic, we’re basically cannibals: We eat Jesus every Sunday, you know? So who am I to say your religion is creepy?

When I was a kid, I was very much interested in magic and science. They fueled interest in one another.

I love writing family stories.