Laura Resau > Quotes

“I see that if you try to fit someone in a box, she might slip through the seams like water and become her own river.”
― Laura Resau, The Queen of Water

“Power is a tricky thing, mija. It can lift you up high on its wings and up into the sky where you feel invincible. But sometimes you forget the bigger thing that makes you fly. Without God, without love, you fall. You stop being grateful and humble, and you fall." pg. 230”
― Laura Resau, The Indigo Notebook

“Life is the ultimate artistic masterpiece, and it's up to you, the creator, to make it as wildly dazzling as possible.”
― Laura Resau, The Indigo Notebook

“I move onward, through the colors and cheers and music, floating into my future, and it is a clear, open space that stretches wider that the sky and higher than the Andes.”
― Laura Resau, The Queen of Water

“Loneliness was tricky: a cup filled at one moment with freedom, and the next, with emptiness.”
― Laura Resau, Red Glass

“And now, tonight, we're living through the bitter part, or maybe the painful, burning part. But more sweetness will come, sooner or later. Trust that it will.”
― Laura Resau, The Jade Notebook

“Maybe that’s what I need to do now, muster up everything that was ever vivísima about me and somehow find a way to stand tall.”
― Laura Resau, The Queen of Water

“Have you noticed that if you really want something, you can make it happen? But you need to be sure it's what you really want, because sometimes, when it comes true, you realize too late that it's not what you wanted. Not at all.”
― Laura Resau, The Queen of Water

“A secret to happiness . . . Being part of the flow of wisdom, And understanding that all things in nature have their own form of consciousness.”
― Laura Resau, Tree of Dreams

“Bad things happen, people get hurt. We take refuge. Then we forgive ourselves and others and the world. We focus on the good things. And make them even better.”
― Laura Resau, The Alchemy of Flowers: A Novel

“Keep your eyes open, dear. Magic is around us all the time, but if we're not looking, we miss it." . . .

"But, Gali, what if you're looking for magic, but you still can't find any?"

"Why, then, you make your own magic, Coco.”
― Laura Resau, Tree of Dreams

“I didn't talk on the way back to the Hill of Dust.

But the maestra did. The whole way, she murmured the sweetest, softest words in Mixteco, words from Grandfather that floated here and there like feathers.”
― Laura Resau, The Lightning Queen

“The good guys are the ones who wander. The ones with the ocean spilling from their chests.”
― Laura Resau, The Indigo Notebook

“Just around the bend, the village La Chanson appeared, bright in the late morning sunshine, a cluster of ancient buildings tucked into a lush valley, where a ribbon of river sparkled. Callie almost gasped at its otherworldly color, like emeralds and sapphires turned liquid.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“In the eaves of the ancient grain hall, the carving of the Durance River goddess winked her approval in a glint of sunlight. Amid her bounty of lemons and grapes, creativity and wildness, she hung her bare foot off the edge, unbridled and overflowing. Her lover, the River Rhone, reclined beside her.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“Yesterday, I read that our namesake, Calliope, goddess of poetry and music, sang about Persephone, trapped in the underworld. And I think of you, Callie, in that watery cave, still singing, earnest and hopeful and determined…”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“Chouchou was the runt of the litter. Her breeder didn’t think she’d make it. So he said Luc could have her if he could keep her alive. She was just the size of a rat back then.” He laughed. “But Luc brought her everywhere in that sling, fed her with bottles through days and nights. And look at her now!”
“A miracle,” Eva said solemnly.
“Chouchou went through scary times, but she’s stronger for it now.” He gave Eva a meaningful look.
“Good thing she had Luc,” said Eva.
Her papi nodded. “And Belle stepped in to be a mother, and Jolie became an aunt, and all the dogs at the park are like brothers and sisters.”
Eva nodded. “But Luc saved her.”
Callie remembered their first meeting with him, the puppy in the sling. She’d had no idea he’d just nursed it back from near-death. And now he was offering this resilient creature to her daughter, to make her feel safe and loved.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“At lightning speed, Eva ran toward him as he set down the puppy— a truffle dog by the look of it, about four months old, white with large black spots— and within seconds, she was rolling around as it licked her cheeks. “J’adore your Lagotto Romagnolo,” she informed him.
“And evidently, Chouchou adores you.”
Chouchou. My little cabbage. The classic French term of affection seemed perfect for this roly-poly creature.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“My waters rise from the source, deep in the earth, from secret caverns, hidden pockets of spirit. A rumble of bass moves through limestone tunnels, upward and onward, around curves, gathering chords, minor and major, until out flows a song, azure and cerulean, plucked from sunshine and moonbeam.
Some say my music echoes your soul, harmonizes with fears and longings, calls forth your own song, until it spills out in liquid jewels.
If, of course, you are worthy.
My waters sing of death too, a low drumbeat that rattles the bones.
There are those of you who bring out the river dragon in me.
And my gaping mouth swallows you whole.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“The thing about feeling hopeless is that it's hard to recall secrets to happiness, even if you've had hundreds of them memorized for years like multiplication facts.”
― Laura Resau, Tree of Dreams

“Wisdom begins in wonder.’ Socrates.”
― Laura Resau, The Alchemy of Flowers: A Novel

“I didn’t mind being compared to a wonder-filled old witch. It seemed, oddly enough, like the ultimate compliment.”
― Laura Resau, The Alchemy of Flowers: A Novel

“Eva’s favorite dog was a russet female with buoyant energy. “What’s her name?” she asked in French.
“Belle!” declared one of the men. “She’s my copine!” He clutched his chest, as if lovestruck, and blew kisses to the furry creature as Callie translated la copine for Eva: “His girlfriend.”
”Oh, Belle is belle.” Eva sprawled beside the dogs, delighted.
As her daughter became thoroughly coated in canine saliva, Callie greeted the men with standard pleasantries, then chatted about Colorado and La Chanson and the dogs, who were truffle dogs— the Lagotto Romagnolo breed.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“The carnyx—like Pepito— was an ancient source of power in her life. It was more than an artifact— it was a treasure whose bond with her ran deep and strong.
Somehow, the carnyx had survived for millennia in the depths of a watery cave. Admittedly, she didn’t fully understand how this was possible. A patina forming over the bronze, preventing rust? Something about the water chemistry? The unique geology of the limestone cave system? Or was it something more… magical?
She wasn’t clear either, how, at certain times, when she most needed it, she heard the carnyx roar. Was it the water rushing through tunnels, angled through the six-foot-long instrument? Or was it a mythical force that brought the dragon to life, made the carnyx rumble in her bones like a battle cry?”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“She gazed, mesmerized, at the water, unknowable in the shadows, until a sunbeam found its way in, at just the right angle, and reached into the depths with a flash of blue-green. Light reflected off bronze, and she glimpsed the carnyx. It was real, this instrument.
She heard her voice emerge like a dragon's. And she felt her selves join. Singer and listener became one and the same.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“She sang songs of earth and taste and secrets.
Of honey and keys and stars.
Of lemons and petals and moon.
Of tree and sun and stone.
Of dragon and spirit and fight.
Of feathers and treasures and sky.
She let herself fly, fly away with every soul there.
She moved across the stage with the grace of a selkie who’d slipped back into her skin.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“Where do you want to live? Do you want to live free and poor and covered in flea welts? Or enslaved, with your own clean room and a shower with hot water? Who are you, Virginia? Who are you, really?”
― Laura Resau, The Queen of Water

“The water’s deep blue-green felt unreal, something you’d expect in the Caribbean or in a fantastical realm. Its songs rose, spiraling and wisping, whirling with dragonflies.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“After clinking glasses, Callie sipped the pale, sunset-pink wine, savoring undercurrents of river stone, orchard fruit, ripe berries, and wild herbs. It tasted like freedom, like being lost and found, reunited with her truest song and singing it for the world to hear. Its notes were at once sweet and strong, rosemary and lavender, earth and sky, cave and source.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse

“And they kissed, lips warm against the cool night air. The kiss was a key, unlocking something soft and honeyed, earthy and foresty, starlit and sunlit. They pulled each other closer still, and she clasped the back of his neck as his hand pressed against the small of her back. Just the two of them in this secret pocket of the universe.”
― Laura Resau, The River Muse