I loved being in my own head so much, it was getting harder and harder being with other people.

I sighed. "What is life but fleeting moments of happiness strung together on necklace of despair?

I used to feel defensive when people would say, 'Yes, but your books have happy endings', as if that made them worthless, or unrealistic. Some people do get happy endings, even if it's only for a while. I would rather never be published again than write a downbeat ending.

They say the path of true love never runs smooth. Well, Luke and my true love's path didn't run at all, it limped along in new boots that were chafing its heels. Blistered and cut, red and raw, every hopping, lopsided step, a little slice of agony.

I haven’t had Botox because my face is a bit lopsided and I depend on keeping everything animated so that people don’t notice.

Minsk! How pissed-off that sounded! It was great. You could scare the bejayzus out of someone if you said it right.

Relationship gurus always said that an attraction based on friendship and mutual respect was far more likely to stay the course - and the bastards were right.