I want all my books to provoke some kind of response in the reader, to make them think something or feel something or both, and for that to become a part of them and work into their own lives.

Why was it that pride and foolishness were so often close companions?

I do think that part of literature's job is to comment on and participate in the social issues of the time.

Libraries hold the wisdom of the world and the stories of the ages - available to everyone, free of charge!

Reading for writers is like training for athletes.

You burn the paper, but not the words. You silence the words, but not the thoughts. You kill the thoughts only if you kill the man. And you will find that his thoughts rise again in the minds of others - twice as strong as before.

My first publication was a haiku in a children's magazine when I was 9 years old. I received one dollar for it! I gave the check to my dad for Christmas, and he framed it and hung it over his desk.