But when the thing that is scaring you is already Jesus, who are you supposed to pray to?

Humor is such a wonderful thing, helping you realize what a fool you are but how beautiful that is at the same time.

We don't create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.

When we finish a book, why do we hold it in both hands and gaze at it as if it were somehow alive?

When I work on a book, I usually start with a question. And I don't sit around and go "I need to write a book. What's a good question?" It will be a question that's just clanging around in my head.

Then how can you ever know about the beautiful goodness of Mud? How bad it wants to be things. How bad it wants to get on your legs and arms and take your footprints and handprints and how bad it wants you to make it alive! Mud is always ready to play with you. Seriously you should try it!

These are very confusing times. For the first time in history a woman is expected to combine: intelligence with a sharp hairdo, a raised consciousness with high heels, and an open, nonsexist relationship with a tan guy who has a great bod.