You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over you shoulder, you'll never write.

If you were a pure bolt of fire-cutting the skies I'd touch you-risking my life-not because I'm brave or strong, but because I'm fascinated by what the outcome would be.

If i can't have what i want . . . then my job is to want what i've got and be satisfied that at least there is something more to want

You must invent your own games and teach us old ones how to play.

Most of my books are a two-year project. I tend to follow my heart and my mind and research materials where they take me.

Schools should be integrated by race and by class.

I just think she was a wonderful woman. What I think of when I think of Nina [Simone] is someone that I could relate to, who didn't want anything from me, that could relate to me because I didn't want anything from her. It was nice.