The villainous sun and the starved bank did not seem related—yet.

Most of the writers I know work every day, in obscurity and close to poverty, trying to say one thing well and true. Day in, day out, they labor to find their voice, to learn their trade, to understand nuance and pace. And then, facing a sea of rejections, they hear about something like Barbara Bush’s dog getting a book deal.

Sometimes the wind along the Pacific shore blows so hard it steals your breath before you can inhale it.

The villainous sun and the starved bank did not seem related—yet.

I am beginning to believe that nothing is quite so uncertain as facts. (Edward Curtis)

You need messiness and magic, serendipity and insanity. Creativity comes from time off, and time out.

Last year, [Pope Francis] was asked about his secret to happiness. He said slow down. Take time off. Live and let live. Don't proselytize. Work for peace. Work at a job that offers basic human dignity. Don't hold on to negative feelings. Move calmly through life. Enjoy art, books and playfulness.