“She had learned over time that to know anything was bearable. It was secrecy that could not be borne.” — J. Courtney Sullivan Heart Copy Share Image
On Saturdays, I get up early, spread out my notes from the week on the kitchen table, and create stories from them. — J. Courtney Sullivan Create Copy Share Image
“With the Smithies, it was different. There was sometimes no telling where one of them began and the others left off.” — J. Courtney Sullivan Different Copy Share Image
One of the best parts of being a writer is getting to peer into other worlds - even if you aren't going… — J. Courtney Sullivan Being Copy Share Image
“even if there was no God there was always the ocean- before you and after you, breathing in and out for all… — J. Courtney Sullivan Eternity Copy Share Image
I've never understood why some people think it's virtuous and essential to finish every book they start. — J. Courtney Sullivan Book Copy Share Image
“Someone could save your life without you ever knowing it. It happened more than most people realized.” — J. Courtney Sullivan Life Copy Share Image
I admire the linear and decisive way a certain kind of man thinks, to my curlicue boundless overthinking. — J. Courtney Sullivan Admire Copy Share Image
A kid thinks her mother is just that -- hers. A mother is also a woman, an independent being, who doesn't want… — J. Courtney Sullivan Affair Copy Share Image
“The outside pressure to be married was intense. This had surprised her a decade ago, but now she thought she understood. People… — J. Courtney Sullivan Marriage Copy Share Image
“It was so bitter and sad, looking for safety in the person least likely to give it to you. Like drinking salt… — J. Courtney Sullivan Bitter Copy Share Image
When I was growing up, for example, everybody on our street was Irish. And all the girls did Irish step dancing. It… — J. Courtney Sullivan Dance Copy Share Image
She thought about him all the time - not so much about Doug the individual, but rather about the nature of love,… — J. Courtney Sullivan Disappear Copy Share Image
“Kids are amazing. The first few months, they're just like these loaves of bread that shit. You're wondering what the hell you… — J. Courtney Sullivan Children Copy Share Image
Every woman needs secrets,' her mother said with a smile then, her eyes meeting Sally's in the rearview mirror. 'Remember that when… — J. Courtney Sullivan Every woman Copy Share Image
This was how the modern working girl behaved. She didn’t hide her femininity or apologize for it, as they did in the… — J. Courtney Sullivan Apologizing Copy Share Image
It's true of Irish Catholic families. They're big on story telling and big on saving stories from one generation to the next. — J. Courtney Sullivan Big Copy Share Image
“You could sell crack on the street and go to jail for decades. Or you could sell a woman, and be back… — J. Courtney Sullivan Sell Crack Copy Share Image
Women leave their marriages when they can't take any more. Men leave when they find someone new. — J. Courtney Sullivan Inspirational Copy Share Image
“It felt something like being in love, but without the weight of having to choose just one heart to hold on to,… — J. Courtney Sullivan Fear Copy Share Image
“All over the planet women were being tormented, yet if you took sexism seriously, you were a bore, an idiot, or a… — J. Courtney Sullivan Sexism Copy Share Image
Every St. Patrick's Day in my hometown is such a huge thing. You know, it was like Christmas, but in green. — J. Courtney Sullivan Christmas Copy Share Image
“awake. James would force himself to close his eyes. For the next few hours, he’d lie there, thrashing around, trying to get… — J. Courtney Sullivan Awake Copy Share Image
“How could a person have and do all these stupid things--clip coupons and double lock the front door--and then one day just… — J. Courtney Sullivan Cease to exist Copy Share Image
“No one can ever know the inner parts of anyone else’s marriage. It’s a strange business.” — J. Courtney Sullivan Business Copy Share Image
“It was amazing that you did not become your grief entirely, and walk about leaking it everywhere.” — J. Courtney Sullivan Amazing Copy Share Image
When she was pregnant with Teddy, she feared that she’d give birth to a child who disliked reading. It would be like… — J. Courtney Sullivan Birth Copy Share Image
Reading poetry gives me a sense of calm, well-being, and love for humanity - the same stuff more flexible women get from… — J. Courtney Sullivan And love Copy Share Image
I like dressing up for dates and dissecting a dinner conversation with a new guy to determine if he might be The… — J. Courtney Sullivan Communication Copy Share Image
The hardest part about writing fiction is finding long stretches of time to do it: for me, this means writing mostly on… — J. Courtney Sullivan Able Copy Share Image
When I started writing my second novel, I decided that one of the characters would have a passion for dollhouses, which allowed… — J. Courtney Sullivan Books Copy Share Image
The girls said she was too cynical about love, but how could you not be? On the surface, relations between men and… — J. Courtney Sullivan Complicated Copy Share Image
I read as much poetry as time allows and circumstance dictates: No heartache can pass without a little Dorothy Parker, no thunderstorm… — J. Courtney Sullivan Auden Copy Share Image
In my experience, a novel is the culmination of various thoughts and impressions collected over time, until something comes along to give… — J. Courtney Sullivan Books Copy Share Image
Deep down, I have always been 72 years old. In college, my friends used to make fun of me because I would… — J. Courtney Sullivan Deep Copy Share Image
For whatever reason, various outlets and individuals are committed to making the world think that young girls don't talk or care about… — J. Courtney Sullivan Care Copy Share Image
Character development is what I value most as a reader of fiction. If an author can manage to create the sort of… — J. Courtney Sullivan About Copy Share Image
There's a Dar Williams song about 'houses that are haunted, with the kids who lie awake and think about other generations past… — J. Courtney Sullivan Haunted Copy Share Image
“Now she saw that marriage was like being in a three-legged race with the same person for the rest of your life.… — J. Courtney Sullivan Happiness Copy Share Image
“Once this kid came into the world, Sally knew, she would live in constant terror of somehow injuring or losing her. Having… — J. Courtney Sullivan Children Copy Share Image
