Just because I'm talking about something that might have been a sad or painful situation doesn't mean that I'm sad or tortured 24 hours a day any more than anybody else is.

When I started out playing guitar and singing, I was about twelve, going on thirteen. The role models for me back then were the folk singers. They all had these high, really nice voices and ranges, like Judy Collins and Joan Baez, and then later, of course, Joni Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt. I decided early on that I was going to learn how to write songs really, really well, because I didn't want to have to compete as a singer. I didn't feel that it was my strong point.

I was immediately taken with Geoff Muldaur's rich soulful voice, masterful phrasing and guitar playing when I first heard him.

You can't be afraid to deal with your demons. You've got to go there to be able to write.

People let their own hang-ups become the obstacles between them and personal happiness.

I can speak for most songwriters - those breakup love songs are so easy to write, as far as the inspiration and all that.

What I do as a songwriter is a constant force in my life, that I'm grateful to have.