I like writing about women, weak and strong, pathetic and heroic. I like writing about men, ditto. And all the variants of men and women, beasts and demons.

How massively the mountains stand, while low to the ground the sand blows. The sand blows on and on. And then there are no mountains, none at all, the sand has kissed and whispered them away. And still, the sand blows on.

I will draw you back to me. You shall see. By a chain of stars.

Hope is a punishable offense. The verdict is always death; one more death of the heart.

It gets cold in the desert at night, particularly up in the mountains; the stars hammer on the rock and strike frost.

It's very selfish when I write. I'm not aware, ever, of writing for another person; I'm not even really aware of writing for myself.

I love writers all across the board, but one who influenced me very directly at the beginning was Mary Renault.