Affection is one of the most neglected words in the English language, that people throw the word love around like confetti when they mean affection.

A new sickness invaded Jerry, the sickness of knowing what he had become, another animal, another beast, another violent person in a violent world, inflicting damage, not disturbing the universe but damaging it.

Kids tell me all the time, "I don't know how you do it, but that's us in the book." That's the kind of response you want, and I can't sacrifice it for the sake of somebody worried about censorship. You have to find a way to be truthful and honest.

Cities fell. Earth opened. Planets tilted. Stars plummeted. And the awful silence.

I don't think I began to be a professional writer until I learned my weaknesses and what I couldn't do. This forced me to compensate.

Family life was wonderful. The streets were bleak. The playgrounds were bleak. But home was always warm. My mother and father had a great relationship. I always felt 'safe' there.

It's amazing that the heart makes no noise when it cracks.