A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally.

The first thing I do in the morning when I awaken is say, 'Thank you, Lord!' I'm grateful to be alive, and I'm going to try to tell the truth as well as I know and tell it as eloquently as I can so that people can hear it.

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.

When I am writing, I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we're capable of, how we feel, how we lose and stand up, and go on from darkness into darkness. I'm trying for that. But I'm also trying for the language. I'm trying to see how it can really sound.

I wasn't a pretty girl. I was six feet tall at 15, you know.

Just as hope rings through laughter, it can also shine through tears.

Poetry gave me back my voice.