Carmen Agra Deedy

Read, read, read. Read good books. You will strengthen your understanding of story. Your vocabulary will be the richer for it.

If you tell stories you love, you will never tell them with indifference - take it to the bank.

I began telling stories as a volunteer in my daughters' school. But I grew up hearing stories from Cuban and Southern storytellers, and I learned a great deal by just being quiet and listening.

I confess that I listen to my own music for my own pleasure.

It took me realizing that a broken heart has never actually killed anyone to find the courage to ask for what I want, in just about every situation. That was part of my own growing up.

The only way to become authentically powerful is to create authentic power. You cannot wish, want, or command authentic power into your life, although you can try.