She raised her head and saw a squadron of fighter planes. She stretched her hand high as if she could grab hold and climb away from what she had done, from who she was.

Long ago she'd clamped an iron shell around her heart and nothing and no one could pry it lose, but deep inside the tender flesh still beat.

Ruth wiped her eyes. Successful at a price? Forgiven but damaged? She wished so much more for her baby sister.

Nothing can dwindle to nothing, as Nature restores one thing from the stuff of another, nor does she allow a birth, without a corresponding death.

Anxious, inexperienced writers obey rules. Rebellious, unschooled writers break rules. Artists master the form.

If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you every moment becomes a prayer.

The worst sin-perhaps the only sin- passion can commit is to be joyless.

There's a lot of things you can't control. But you can always be a pro.

I write books for young adults because I truly connect with them on some very deep level. They are our hope, our future, and inspiring them to be the best they can be is very important to me.

You do it a day at a time. You write as well as you can, you put it in the mail, you leave it under submission, you never leave it at home.

What, do they run already? Then I die happy.

When I first came to Yankee Stadium I used to feel like the ghosts of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were walking around in there.

I see myself much more as a writer/director or at least an aspiring writer/director - not necessarily in film.