I made a very conscious effort to finish 'The Cypress House' before 'So Cold the River' launched because I thought that would help build a buffer between my writing and any impact that came from either the success or the failure of that first book.

Before this government came to power many failing schools were simply allowed to drift on in a pattern of continuing failure. The government is determined to break that pattern and is successfully doing so.

I met Ashley two weeks before I married him. It was a joke-the most ridiculous thing I've ever done. Once I was married I didn't want to be a failure so I stuck it out for six months which was about six months too long.

Before I was married I didn't consider my failure to manage even basic hand tools a feminist inadequacy. I thought it had more to do with being Jewish. The Jews I knew growing up didn't do 'do-it-yourself.' When my father needed to hammer something he generally used his shoe and the only real tool he owned was a pair of needle-nose pliers.

I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success.

Every great work every big accomplishment has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision and often just before the big achievement comes apparent failure and discouragement.

Think twice before you speak because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.

Before you can win a game you have to not lose it.

Before success comes in any man's life he's sure to meet with much temporary defeat and perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That's exactly what the majority of men do.

I don't think any good book is based on factual experience. Bad books are about things the writer already knew before he wrote them.