My father read poetry to me, encouraged me to memorize poems. But the writing of it was quite a different thing.

Poems have a different music from ordinary language, and every poem has a different kind of music of necessity, and that's, in a way, the hardest thing about writing poetry is waiting for that music, and sometimes you never know if it's going to come.

A dark poem is meant to redeem the dark part.

If you spend your whole life being depressed about life, you're wasting it.

No one forces me, or any other writer, to sell a film option on the books. If you don't want to run the risk that the filmmakers may adapt your work in a way you don't like, then you don't sell the option. You know when you sell it that they will have to make some changes, just because film and TV are different media than books.

I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I like the idea of the songs being evocative and distinctive, so I have in my mind the atmosphere that a film could evoke. I like to think of them existing in their own little world.

Sexual living is a reflection of God's love for us. It has two key qualities, which is faithfulness and creativity of new life.

Music is a really great creative tool for me, for different roles.