The tears that heal are also the tears that scald and scourge.

There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story... don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words--the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers who won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.

As far as where I go when I die, the concept that I am simple going to flick out, like a light bulb, to me is not only spiritually impossible to believe, but logically it is laughable - the idea that we simply die and nothing happens.

Like anything else that happens on its own, the act of writing is beyond currency. Money is great stuff to have, but when it comes to the act of creation, the best thing is not to think of money too much. It constipates the whole process.

Mrs. Cole was a perfect democrat. She hated all kids equally.

If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.

I'm still in love with what I do, with the idea of making things up, so hours when I write always feel like very blessed hours to me.