Barbara Brooke > Barbara's Quotes

“Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?”
― Amelia Earhart

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
― C.S. Lewis

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
― C.S. Lewis

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
― Dr. Seuss

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
― Henry James

“When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.”
― Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart

“There's always going to be bad stuff out there. But here's the amazing thing -- light trumps darkness, every time. You stick a candle into the dark, but you can't stick the dark into the light.”
― Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
― W. Somerset Maugham

“Books pull you to other worlds ... let them, and enjoy the adventure.”
― H.B. Bolton

“Unfortunately, there isn't a rewind button to life.”
― Barbara Brooke, Glimmers

“Have you hugged your book today?”
― Barbara Brooke

“A dark-chocolate truffle melts in my mouth, and I forget about everything else ... even the fact that I'm on a diet.”
― Barbara Brooke

“Why do I write? Because, I am able to create wonders with a click of my keyboard. I turn my computer on, and suddenly, I’m whisked into a world full of wonder and amazement. The universe bends to my will and defies physics. But when the afternoon arrives, I must return to my duties. I leave the comfort of my home and crawl through the elementary school carpool line. When I see the brightened faces of my children, my heart flutters, and I realize I can live with a few straggling toys … as long as I can escape into the shower later.”
― Barbara Brooke

“Toys have taken over my family room. I watch Mary Poppins, and no matter how many spoonfuls of sugar I eat, action figures won’t march into a bin with the snap of my fingers.”
― Barbara Brooke

“Evan ran his finger across the faded leather spines. He laughed at how silly some of the names were: Paint Your Roses Red, Edelweiss and Me, World of Mushrooms and Fungi, The Toadstool Diaries, Daffodils Unseen and Exotic Plants Unleashed, to name but a few.”
― H.B. Bolton, The Serpent's Ring

“One word came to mind: pee-yew. Evan tried to place the odor; it wasn’t a heap of decayed garbage or that of a spoiled fish. Truth be told, he smelled like rotten cheese.”
― H.B. Bolton, The Serpent's Ring

“They’re close.
Voices loud and fierce,
Slapping faces with words.
A scream …
A cry …
They’re getting closer.

Did I lock the door?
It’s too late to check.
They’re coming.
I barely move, barely breathe.
Perhaps they’ll go away.
But they’re getting closer.

The door slams against the wall.
My eyes squeeze shut.
This curtain is not a shield.
They’re here.
They’ve come for me.
I freeze.

Metal rings clank together.
My barrier is cast aside.
Wearily, I look.
Reddened eyes glower at one another …
But not at me.
I wonder.

A moment of silence …
Water streams down my face.
Steam rolls around my flesh.
I glare at the intruders
And slide the curtain between us.
I wait.

He shrieks,
“She took my glow stick!”
She howls,
“No, I didn’t!”
I scowl.
“Go tell your father about it.”

They leave.
I inhale the lavender mist.
Slather bubbles over my skin.
Five more minutes …
And, next time,
I shall lock the door.”
― Barbara Brooke

“Even in your darkest moments, you'll think of something that'll crack you up.”
― Brad Paisley

“My goal is to sweep the reader away from his world and bring him along for the adventure. Learning something new shouldn’t feel like work, nor should today’s younger reader be underestimated. If done correctly, there is no need to “dumb down” the plot or simplify words. When someone tells me he thought The Serpent’s Ring was easy to read, I know I succeeded in my storytelling.”
― H.B. Bolton

“I suspect that I’m not alone when it comes to altering my surroundings depending on how I feel at any particular moment: diving into a specific book, immersing inside a particular movie, devouring certain foods or humming to just the right song.”
― Barbara Brooke

“I think if human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn't life be more interesting that way? And now that I think about it, why the heck don't they? Who made the rule that everybody has to dress like sheep 364 days of the year? Think of all the people you'd meet if they were in costume every day. People would be so much easier to talk to - like talking to dogs. ”
― Douglas Coupland, The Gum Thief

“Always choose the adventure ... unless, it's chilly outside and there's a cup of warm coffee resting near a book and comfy sofa.”
― Barbara Brooke

“Drama entered my home last week, but I ushered it to the door and tossed it to the curb.”
― Barbara Brooke, Glimmers