“you have to have the right sort of stone. Peridot for mothers, girasol for lovers, sapphire for sadness, and garnet for joy.” — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Her father’s shadow looked sadly down at her. “You can never forget what you do in a war, September my love. No… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
I know you loved both he and I, the way a mother can love two sons. And no one should be judged… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Love, I've never been anyone's mother; I don't know how to talk to young or old. But don't stop smiling just because… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“RULES OF FAIRYLAND-BELOW BEWARE OF DOG ANYTHING IMPORTANT COMES IN THREES AND SIXES DO NOT STEAL QUEENS A GIRL IN THE WILD… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“After all, growing up is nothing but an argument with your parents on the topic of whether or not you are grown.… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“I do so love my witches and wicked queens. I find myself drawn to feminine archetypes that previous generations have found threatening… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Hats change everything. September knew this with all her being, deep in the place where she knew her own name, and that… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
True names,” said September wonderingly. “These are all true names. Like, when your parents call you to dinner and you don’t come… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“But I can see that you are in pain, and that is the province of monsters. You drag your mother's corpse with… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“My mother lived alone in the ruins of the great Library, which was called Compleat, and a very passionate and dashing Library… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“You think I am so wicked, don't you? A monster. Unnatural. How cruel of me to keep you here and rattle on… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop. — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.” — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it. — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are… — Catherynne M. Valente Copy Share Image
