Pemberton felt something shift inside him, something small but definite, the way a knob's slight twist allowed a door to swing wide open.

What we've seen is a definite shift toward professionals, skilled professionals. That was a market that didn't really exist as much in Vermont five or 10 years ago.

I've always been haunted that he might have been.

What I've become convinced makes a writer are the days you hate it, the days you'd rather stick those pencils in your eyes. Sometimes I almost punish myself - if I'm not going be able to write, I'm not going be able to do anything else. I just sit there and wait.

You got one choice at the beginning but if you didn't choose right, things got narrow real quick.

I listened to time clicking like hooves on pavement. But time isn't something you can rein in. It moves on without pause, taking us with it no matter how much we wish it otherwise.