Everything in my life affects my writing. There are no separate parts of my life.

Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it's like breathing.

Revision is the heart of writing. Every page I do is done over seven or eight times.

To me, family is everything. I want children to realize how important their families are and what a support system a family is.

When I sit and talk with a person, I'm not always paying attention. I'm looking at the person and saying, 'What is it about his or her life that appeals to me?'

I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.