Quotes from Ellen Hopkins

People inspire me. Everyone is such an individual and has unique stories. I'm a voyeur. I eavesdrop. Sometimes I ask questions. And sometimes people just want to tell me their stories.

I was about six years old, still Daddy's little girl, even though Daddy couldn't care less about me. How could I expect any man every would?

I haven't cried since Mom died. I mean, after something like that, what's left to cry about, right? But I let myself cry now. Loss is loss. Doesn't take death to create it. (266)

Except when it comes to Mom. She is, and always has been, the driving force in this family. And sometimes that means driving us head-on, no possible change of course, into a wall.

Paradise A concept embraced by almost every culture. A land of peace and harmony. Some say it doesn't belong to the earth, that there is no Shangri-la, no utopian wilderness for the living.

Without poetry, stories would be told in sepia.

I write poetry anyway and have for years and years. For me, putting fiction and poetry together is like the best of both worlds.

And at some point I would like to talk my publisher into doing an anthology of my poetry alongside some teen readers' poetry. It would be fun, and really wonderful to get their stuff out there.

Sorry. But I don't need some money-grubbing preacher defining my relationship with God.

It's just so hard to feel good, you know?

It's just so hard to feel good, you know?" I do know. And more than that, it's just so incredibly hard to feel. (54)

Happiness is a bull's-eye, awaiting arrows of pain.

Only by confronting your demons can you ever hope to conquer them.

Can a dream be wrong? Aren't dreams God's way of telling you things?

Religion is for followers... Followers and puppets.

Ask me, it's a sin to pervert faith with religion. Despite every church, mosque, & synagogue in it, this is not the world any God worth his salt would have created.

I never actually plan sequels. They demand to be done.

Her smile is like summer moonlight-beautiful and magical, with a fire that could melt the night.

I hide hurt behind a fake smile. I wear it all the time. Everyone says how I always look so cheerful. Shows what they know I guess.

Smile. Nod. Say something witty before he finds out what an incredible geek you are.

I don't need more pain in my life. Why did I invite it in? Do I have to feel pain to believe I feel anything at all?

...life is all about chances. You might be safer not taking any. But playing it totally safe means you're only existing. Not living. I want to live.

Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great At least for a little while

Loss is loss. Doesn't take death to create it.