Only a fool is never afraid, Frank. Heroes are the people who carry on despite their fear, because they know the job’s got to get done

Remember... life is short. Each moment you have is precious. Treasure every second. Don't spend them doing anything you don't love.

Sometimes I just want to write a really intense love scene. But I can't do that in my books for teens, or parents will complain - believe me, I've tried.

Pretty isn't the only thing that matters - being smart and kind matters more, of course - but all daughters should hear from their moms that they look pretty once in a while.

Mia, I'm not sorry. And I'll wait. Love, Michael.

The first thing we did was change all the clocks so that her siblings thought it was bedtime, then put them to bed ignoring their plaintive protests that they were not tired. They wept themselves to sleep soon enough.

I might look like a honey-eyed schoolgirl on the outside, in my skirt with its regulation four-inches-above-the-knee hem. But I'll rip those tassels off your shoes, old man. Just try Googling me.