My Novels Are Certainly More Exciting Than

When I Was Writing 'the Abstinence Teacher,' I Really Tried To Immerse Myself In Contemporary American Evangelical Culture.

They Both Seemed To Understand That Describing It Was Beyond Their Powers, The Gratitude That Spreads Through Your Body When A Burden Gets Lifted, And The Sense Of Homecoming That Follows, When You Suddenly Remember What It Feels Like To Be Yourself.

Once You'd Broken Through That Invisible Barrier That Separates One Person From Another, You Were Connected Forever, Whether You Liked It Or Not.

Jill Felt An Emptiness Open Inside Of Her As She Lifted Her Arm, A Sense That Something Vital Was Being Subtracted From Her Life. It Was Always Like That When Somebody You Cared About Went Away, Even When You Knew It Was Inevitable, And It Probably Wasn't Your Fault.

He'd Never Had To Make The Adjustments And Compromises Other People Accepted Early In Their Romantic Careers; Never Had A Chance To Learn The Lesson That Sarah Taught Him Everyday--that Beauty Was Only A Part Of It, And Not Even The Most Important Part, That There Were Transactions Between People That Occurred On Some Mysterious Level Beneath The Skin, Or Maybe Even Beyond The Body.