You,” I said, “are sweet music in a distant room.

I needed to let them know they couldn't hurt me. I've learned that the best way to stay safe is to make your enemies think you can't be hurt.

I have had a few gentlemen let me know they find my manly beardiness somewhat alluring. Never any ladies though.

Here's the thing: Authors live or die by recommendations. [That's one of the reason I review so many books on Goodreads.] Giving books you love good reviews is one of the nicest things you can do for an author. What's more it's good for the entire community.

Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes.

Reading aloud sounds like a good idea, but honestly, it doesn't work very well. Good dialogue in a book doesn't actually bear much resemblance to real-life dialogue. For example, if you've ever seen a word-for-word transcript of people talking, it doesn't read off the page very well. The trick is to make it *seem* like it's being spoken, not to make it speakable.

If I seem to wander, if I seem to stray, remember that true stories seldom take the straightest way