When I did small films like Lily and Buenos Vista, everyone thought my career would be ruined.

I hate biographies which say, I was called to such and such an office, and he offered me so and so, and I got so and so money. I find that very tedious. The best biographies are written by other people.

You have actresses like Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, who have roles specially written for them.

It's the first film that I made where the director was not present under the camera, and it threw me.

Growing up, my birthday was always Confederate Memorial Day. It helped to create this profound sense of awareness about the Civil War and the 100 years between the Civil War and the civil rights movement and my parents' then-illegal and interracial marriage.

One who understands the relationships between the human heart and the human mind will always out-hack those who chase after an ever-changing technology.

I've got to believe I'm the first person to win the Newbery who has written a Harlequin romance!

When you're in the throes of this romantic love, it's overwhelming - you're out of control, you're irrational, you're going to the gym at 6 A.M. every day - Why? Because she's there.