I think that what women need to hear is that there is life after failure.

I was the second-youngest child in a family that took up the better part of an entire pew at our Baptist church.

To possess dignity is to be worthy of respect. Worthy of high esteem. Absorb this: you are worthy of respect.

I was the worst teacher you have ever imagined - not that we did not have fun. We had a ton of fun. We just did not learn any scripture. I would think all week long what could I talk about on Sunday, and then I would scramble on Saturday to find some kind of scripture to go with it. This was my teaching.

I don't know what kind of courage it took thousands of years ago, but I know how courageous women need to be today.

When you do fiction, it is your imagination you have put out there.