I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didnt publish my first book until I was 41.

A girl is different. They want things. They need things on a regular schedule. Why, a girl's got purposes you and me can't even imagine. They got ideas in their heads you and me can't even suppose.

He wanted to think of words that would make some difference but there were none in any language he knew that were sufficient to the moment or that would change a single thing.

You have to believe in yourself despite the evidence.

It seems to me nothing man has done or built on this land is an improvement over what was here before.

Fame isn't healthy for a writer.

Honey, Maggie Jones said. Victoria. Listen to me. You're here now. This is where you are.

My desire is to be anonymous, isolated, quiet, peaceful, and concentrated.

This country's crazy in terms of fame and what people think it means. They expect a writer to be something between a Hollywood starlet and the village idiot.

Here was this man Tom Guthrie in Holt standing at the back window in the kitchen of his house smoking cigarettes and looking out over the back lot where the sun was just coming up.

This boy needs a dog.What makes you say that?He needs someone or something to play with besides his phone and an old man and an old woman doddering around.

Nature decrees that we do not exceed the speed of light. All other impossibilities are optional.

I leveled the gun and fired until it was empty.

I have one head that wants to be good, And one that wants to be bad.And always, as soon as I get up, One of my heads is sad.

I think I was always obsessed with esthetics.

If something was confusing or difficult, then it was a positive thing. Confusion is a positive.

Every child has the capacity to be everything.

One will never reach distant shores, if he chooses to remain upon the dock, In fear his little ship of dreams may be dashed against the rocks.

We have to constantly ask ourselves: "Who am I?"

I'm no good at anecdotes.

He's been like a fresh of breath air.