A cantor, when he starts singing, it's like rain - once it starts, it's hard to stop.

The rich swell up with pride, the poor from hunger.

No matter how bad things get you got to go on living, even if it kills you.

One cannot live on potatoes alone. It is said that one wants bread with potatoes. And when there's no bread, a Jew takes his stick, and goes through the village in search of business.

Religion triggers a lot of emotions in me, most of which stem from being raised Jewish in a very Baptist community in the South. I didn't believe any of it from an early age - the clubby quality of whatever religion or church you belonged to, Judaism included. It just struck me as foolish.

When God's hand is on you, there's nothing anybody can do to stop that.

Write because you love the work, not because of what might come from it. The journey is the purpose. Very Zen-like, I know, but honest to God it's the truth. And I have never had to deal with writer's block. Knock on wood.

I've always believed in staying in a positive frame of mind and allowing God to work and move. It's about having patience.