I became very aware of how important it is to connect with children - possibly for the children, if they're in the mood for that - but certainly for the adults.

I think people hold back all kinds of things. And in a way, they just want to be nice. They want to be civil.

I think that politics in most people's lives expresses itself like that: indirectly, in half thought-out opinions and feelings. And sometimes through a connection with something that is very real. But we don't have the knowledge or language to speak about it.

I remember the time I said, 'I don't think you love yourself. You need to learn to love yourself.'

The hurts of childhood that must be avenged: so small and so huge.

When you're writing a story, you're creating something of an artificial ending.

I think the closest thing I can come to defining what that vital thing is for me - is that there's a sort of soul-quality in writing, if it's any good. It has a spirit or an energy to it that is very integral to who the writer is on a deep level. It's almost a cellular thing. It takes place in the cells of the writing, and it is what makes it alive or not.