There is really no end to life's little humiliations.

For just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there's nothing else. It's here, and you'd better decide to enjoy it or you're going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.

How often have I met and disliked writers whose books I love; and conversely, hated the books and then wound up liking the writer? Too often.

The main advantage of being a reviewer is that you read a lot. A lot of books get sent to you, and you have an amazing vantage point from which to observe what's going on in contemporary fiction - not only genre stuff, the whole spectrum.

It didn’t matter where you were, if you were in a room full of books you were at least halfway home.

You don’t learn about yourself by being alone, you learn about yourself from other people.

Being a writer can be isolating. It's good to be among readers and booksellers.