“I realize that a writer's business is setting fire to Piggy Sneed-and trying to save him-again and again; forever.”

“I don't want you to describe to me—not ever—what you were doing to that poor boy to make him sound like that; but if you ever do it again, please cover his mouth with your hand.”

“That’s what I love about boys,” Marion told him. “No matter what, you just go about your business.”

“There’s nothing I need or want to know from the writers I admire that isn’t in their books. It’s better to read a good writer than meet one.”

“It was from just a few sentences that a writer learned anything from another writer.”

“But I often think that so-called glamorous people are just very busy people.”

“Once again, Jack reached for her hand. It was the only thing he knew how to do. As it would turn out, it was about the only thing he reall knew.”