I read The Old Curiosity Shop before I began Blackwood Farm. I was amazed at the utter madness in that book.

Re-telling the Christian story is the essence of my vocation. That has been going on since the Evangelists in one form or another.

Evil is always possible. Goodness is a difficulty.

Obsession led me to write. It's been that way with every book I've ever written. I become completely consumed by a theme, by characters, by a desire to meet a challenge.

What is the real purpose behind the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus? They seem like greater steps toward faith and imagination, each with a payoff. Like cognitive training exercises.

It is evident that an acquaintance with natural laws means no less than an acquaintance with the mind of God therein expressed.

I realized that people had an unreal image of me, that somehow I was a god on Mount Olympus. I decided that if I were going to make use of my role as a Supreme Court Justice, it would be to inspire people to realize that, first, I was just like them and second, if I could do it, so could they.

I'm going to take this God-given gift of being funny, and I'm going to spread it out like peanut butter on everything I do.