Quotes from Lauren Myracle

God, it sucks to disappoint your parents, even at forty-two years old.

One: Don't play leapfrog with elephants. Two: Don't pet a tiger unless his tail is wagging. Three: Never, ever, mess with the Ladies Auxiliary. -Mayberry Rules for a Long, Happy Life

Also, as an author, character has always been what I'm most interested in - much more so than plot or setting, although those are good things too.

Kids are smart. Knowledge is power. Let them figure things out. Don't turn into that grown-up who they won't come to.

You sh?uld eat ? waffle! Y?u ??n't b? sad ?f ??u eat ? waffle!

Being an author of banned books is cool, I've decided.

I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.

Sometimes I worry I'm writing 'Fifty Shades of Grey' for teenagers, but I'm not.

I'm always drawn to the underdogs, to the people whose stories don't get told.

Prancing around with marshmallowss on your nipples does *not* constitute living your life fully!

Every time I write a new book, I want to push myself to try something different.

When guys talk about sex, eyebrows don't get raised. It's different for girls.

Suck it up. This is the life you chose for yourself, so buck up and deal.

I'm sorry," he said again, and this time he took those words and owned them.

Every girl on the planet was familiar to one-last-time e-mail checks.

Kids need to see their world reflected back to them.

I understand why parents worry about books - they're worried about their kids. They want to keep their kids safe. But parents aren't always realistic.

I don't shy from controversy. I'm telling stories, and I'll tell whatever story seems like it wants to be told.

They're not chicks. They're ducks.

Knowledge was more powerful than fear. Love was stronger than hate.

I'm in loooove with this boy, and when you in love with someone, you don't give up on 'em, mo matter what.

I know I seem really friendly, but I'm a closet introvert.

Give your kid some credit for being smart - just because they read about something doesn't mean they will do it.

What is 'power' anyway? Power is an ego trip. Power is a way to rise yourself up by lowering others, and I want nothing of it.