They had become a fixed star in the shifting firmament of the high school's relationships, the acknowledged Romeo and Juliet. And she knew with sudden hatefulness that there was one couple like them in every white suburban high school in America.

Cut him. Cut him while I stand here and watch. I want to see the blood flow. Don't make me tell you twice.

I choose to believe in God because it makes things better.

My view is that organized religion is a very dangerous tool that's been misused by a lot of people.

The crazy people of the world...shouldn't get to win. If God won't make it better after they do have their shitty little victories, then ordinary people have to. They have to try, at least.

As a rule, I don't worry about genre. I just want to tell a good story, with characters that interest me and my readers.

You have to stay faithful to what you're working on.