“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

“No-one thinks of himself as a villain.” – Christopher Paolini’s character Oromis in his book Eldest.

“Your first chapter is not a straight horizontal line. It’s a jagged driveway leading up a dark mountainside — and the shadows are full of danger.” — Chuck Wendig

“The Writer is an Explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.” — Rallph Waldo Emerson

“It’s not until you really throw your character into the story that you can genuinely understand who they are .” — Elijah Bynum

“If you . . . don’t put in the work, your book may remain in the muck.” — Nathan Bransford

“The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort.” — Billy Cox

It’s all behind the scenes. . .

"It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho

"Creativity is a combination of discipline and childlike spirit.” — Robert Greene

"If you fail you may be disappointed, but if you don’t try you are doomed.” — Beverly Sills

“You too can have your book out in the wild.” Nathan Bransford

"If you fall in love with the vision and not the words, the rewriting will become easier. — Nora DeLoach

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Hope is wild and contagious.” — Elin Kelsey

“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.” — Arne Garborg

This Great Egret is clear about its intention to build a nest.

Patience has earned this snowy egret its dinner!

Summer in California when the grass is dry and yellow.