My ma says a rock lasts forever, but people don’t, and that’s what makes them more precious.

In some ways, I don’t feel as if I had a choice. Looking back at my childhood, even before I could read and write, I was making up stories. I love reading and I love telling stories, and the times in my life when I’ve tried to ignore that part of me, I’ve gone a little crazy. Characters start tugging on my sleeves, words start haunting me, and I feel generally unsatisfied. Really, being a writer sounds more like a mental illness than a professional choice.

Gerti didn’t ask for help.” Miri swallowed and tried to calm her quavering voice. “It was my fault.” “So it was. Now you all have learned that those who speak out of turn choose punishment for themselves and anyone they speak to.” “So if I speak to you, Tutor Olana, will you get the lashes?

You are my butterfly and refuse to set you free.

There's nothing more aggravating in the world than the midnight sniffling of the person you've decided to hate.

Go on, son, you're not doing me any good by bleeding.

... and with my last thought I felt some real sympathy for those poor chickens.