And people tended not to bother a woman with a book.

— Cherie Priest

As for the prayers, I suppose they can’t hurt. I’ve never found much good in them, I’ll confess that here, though I keep such thoughts private when in public company. Who would confide in a physician who claimed no affiliation with God? I still must feed myself, and keep my house. I still need my patients. But too many people believe with too much conviction in what amounts to, at best, a superstition. I’ve seen science change a patient’s diagnosis, but I’ve never heard a prayer that changed God’s mind about a damn thing.

— Cherie Priest

Every affair is a fairy tale or a tragedy.

— Cherie Priest

I gave three quiet cheers for Minnesota. In Seattle a dusty inch of anything white and chilly means the city lapses into full-on panic mode, as if each falling flake crashes to earth with its own individual baggie of used hypodermic needles. It’s ridiculous.

— Cherie Priest

I met his eyes because I could not refuse them... they were the color of a storm clashing with a setting sun.

— Cherie Priest

It was a train full of strangers, and they were all the same.

— Cherie Priest

I've heard it said that God made all men, but Samuel Colt made all men equal. We'd see what Mr. Colt could do for a woman.

— Cherie Priest

Jackson," he mused. "Not a name either one of you was born to." Lizzie answered, "No. But beyond a certain point, names become accessories. We swap them out as needed, for the sake of peace. You understand?"" I understand. Though I disagree. Names aren't hats to change a look, or a suit to be swapped at a whim. Words mean things."" Then we must agree to disagree.

— Cherie Priest

Last century’s magic is this year’s science.

— Cherie Priest

OMG YOU GUYS it has come to my attention that SOMEONE on the internet is saying that my fictional 19th century zombies are NOT SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND. Naturally, I am crushed. To think, IF ONLY I’d consulted with a zoologist or two before sitting down to write, I could’ve avoided ALL THIS EMBARRASSMENT.

— Cherie Priest