Quotes from Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen owes her last name to Bathsheba Everdene, the lead character in 'Far From the Madding Crowd.' The two are very different, but both struggle with knowing their hearts.

Any time you read a book and get attached to the characters, to me it's always a shock when it goes from page to screen and it's not exactly what was in my head or what I was imagining it should be.

I have a pretty big TV background, and I have clocked so many hours in so many writers' rooms over the years.

Whenever I write a story, I hope it appeals to both boys and girls.

It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.

I'm not comfortable around cameras.

I'm not allowed to bet, but if I could, my money would be on you.

All I can think of is the emaciated bodies of children on our kitchen table as my mother prescribes what the parent's can't give. More food.

My mother says healers are born, not made.

Since my father died and I stopped trusting my mother, no one else's arms have made me feel this safe.

You call that a kiss?

its not in my nature to go down without a fight even when things seem insurmountable

But if you want to find peace, you must first be able to hope it is possible.

The awful thing is that if i can forget they're people, it will be no different at all

Scores only matter if they're very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones.

Oh, he's on top of it. It was volunteer only, but he pretended not to notice me waving my hand in the air," says Haymitch. "See? He's already demonstrated good judgment.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The Capitol hates me.

It's not easy to find a topic. Talking of home is painful. Talking of the present unbearable.

I miss home badly sometimes. But then I remember there's nothing left to miss anymore. I feel safer here.

If I get home, I'll be so stinking rich, I'll be able to pay someone to do my hearing.

I don't know what the explosion did, but it damaged something deep and irreparable. Never mind. If I get home, I'll be so stinking rich, I'll be able to pay someone to do my hearing.

The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home An excellent, taut debut novel.

hey. I just wanted to make sure you got home," I say. "Katniss, I live three houses away from you," he says.

Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous.