Do not shout at me, Mr. Quill," said John [Adams]. "Justice may be blind, but she is not deaf.

Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone you love is a hostage, sapping your courage and corrupting your judgment.

The danger that keeps me just a little frightened with every book I write, however, is that I'll overreach myself once too often and try to write a story that I'm just plain not talented or skilful enough to write. That's the dilemma every storyteller faces. It is painful to fail. But it is far sadder when a storyteller stops wanting to try.

We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.

In order to learn, one must change one's mind.

Firequencher raised his hand. "I've been staying out of family conversations. Do I get credit for that?

Writing sessions can last an hour or sixteen hours, depending on how it's going.