I certainly understand very much what it's (like when) an expense comes up and you're trying to figure out how to pay for it. Mary Higgins Clark More Quotes by Mary Higgins Clark More Quotes From Mary Higgins Clark If you want to be happy for life, love what you do. Mary Higgins Clark love-life want being-happy Writing is storytelling. No matter how you slice it, you're saying, 'Once upon a time.' That's what writing is all about. Mary Higgins Clark matter once-upon-a-time writing The flame of inspiration needs to be encouraged. Put a glass around that small candle and protect it from discouragement or ridicule. Mary Higgins Clark flames glasses inspirational Happines is like mercury. Hard to hold, and when we drop it, it shatters into a million pieces. Maybe the bravest of all are those who have the courage to reach for it again. Mary Higgins Clark mercury pieces happiness live your life as if you may lose everything. Mary Higgins Clark live-your-life ifs may When someone is mean to me, I just make them a victim in my next book. Mary Higgins Clark next mean book A library is a path to the future--find yours there. Mary Higgins Clark library path It's funny how, even long after you've accepted the grief of losing someone you love and truly have gotten on with your life, every once in a while something comes up that plays "gotcha," and for a moment or two the scar tissue separates and the wound is raw again. Mary Higgins Clark grief play long A common question asked of writers is "When did you decide to become a writer?" The answer, of course, is that we didn't decide anything. It was decided for us. I firmly believe that mythical godmothers make appearances at our cradles, and bestow their gifts. The godmother who might have blessed me with a singing voice did not show up; the goddess of dance was nowhere in sight; the chef-to-the-angels was otherwise engaged. Only one made the journey to my cradle, and she whispered, "You will be a storyteller." Mary Higgins Clark angel blessed believe Approach your lives as if they were novels, with their own heroes, villains, red herrings, and triumphs. Mary Higgins Clark triumph red hero The first four months of writing the book, my mental image is scratching with my hands through granite. My other image is pushing a train up the mountain, and it's icy, and I'm in bare feet. Mary Higgins Clark writing book hands As a writer, you paint strokes and leave suggestions so readers can create their own pictures. That allows you to know someone by a small action and it saves countless pages of explanation. Mary Higgins Clark suggestions pages action Funny, when you finally faced reality, it was amazing how clearly you could see things. Mary Higgins Clark reality I am a natural optimist but there were times when (it seemed like) I was doing nothing but adding up on the back of envelope what I had to pay this month. Mary Higgins Clark envelopes doing-nothing pay The truth is I hate cocktail parties when the only person I know is my supposed date, and he abandons me the minute we come in the door. Mary Higgins Clark party hate doors When a scientist's son or daughter becomes a scientist they'll say "Wonderful! Wonderful!" So, why, in the name of God, would a mother be jealous to see her daughter become a successful writer? Mary Higgins Clark jealous daughter mother Even though it was six o'clock, there was no sense of approaching dawn. Mary Higgins Clark no-sense though sense dawn