Latest Ellen Hopkins Quotes from Interviews

Quotes about:

• Without poetry, stories would be told in sepia.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Would Be, Stories

• Too many people believe they can control their drug of choice. But the drug is almost always in control. If an addict truly wants help, it is available, but it is a rocky path. The monster always calls. Never give an addict money. Clothe them. Feed them. But enabling them is the quickest path to watching them fade away completely. This may seem harsh. But I've watched my own child relapse, after six years sober. I love her. Always. But I can't help her die.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Children, Believe, Years

  Source: monsterlibrarian.com

• Addiction is rarely conquered alone.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Addiction

  Source: monsterlibrarian.com

• You have to realize there is nothing more you can do to convince someone you love to turn their life around. You simply have to say, "Look. I love you, but I cannot stand by and watch you kill yourself slowly. When you want help I'm here. Until then, goodbye." That may sound cruel, but self-preservation is paramount to helping someone else. If you're a wreck, you're useless to them, anyway. And if they refuse help, despite knowing the likely outcome, they will head down that path anyway.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Goodbye, Love You, Self

  Source: monsterlibrarian.com

• Forgiveness is easy. Trust is much more difficult, and should never be given lightly.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Easy, Should, Given

  Source: monsterlibrarian.com

• Learning by example is valid, but when you have the information to know that turning in a certain direction can lead you to a very wrong place, most of the "blame" is on the individual.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Example, Information, Blame

  Source: monsterlibrarian.com

• I carry a strong anti-drug message, and it's important young people especially hear a "real" story about addiction and how it affects not only the addict but also the people who love him/her, rather than "just say no."

  Ellen Hopkins

  Strong, Real, People

  Source: ncac.org

• I have a really good idea of who my readers are and always write with a sensitivity to my audience. I use the F word when necessary, but there are words I won't use, mainly because I don't like them. I don't write about body parts when I write about sex. It's not about the physiological, it's more important for teens to read about the emotional aspects. I do think there are times when self-censorship is important.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Sex, Writing, Emotional

  Source: ncac.org

• Authors have to write for their characters, for who they are, that's the strength of books. Don't worry about censors. Just write the story you need to tell and the rewards will come.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Book, Writing, Character

  Source: ncac.org

• In my books my characters experience things as they are. My books allow youth an honest look at important issues affecting them. As adults we want to believe things like sex abuse or drug use are not happening anymore, or happening less and less, but that's not the case and we need to acknowledge that. We can't make life prettier for youth, but we can arm them.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Sex, Believe, Book

  Source: ncac.org

• I think parents should know what their children are reading, and if they truly object, they should tell their kids why, rather than summarily removing a book from their possession.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Children, Book, Reading

  Source: versenovels.com

• Many readers share their stories with me and if one speaks to me (or if the same theme keeps coming at me), I will research it and decide if it would make a good book. But, straight down to it, people inspire me.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Book, People, Inspire

• Why are people so afraid of giving their kids necessary information that might prevent an unwanted pregnancy or disease? But they're not worried about the violent nature of video games or movies or books.

  Ellen Hopkins

  Pregnancy, Book, Kids

  Source: versenovels.com