I was pretty happy with how my career had gone, mainly because of the enormous freedom I've had to write what I've wanted to write. I had a very clear picture of who I was as a writer.

My books have occasionally been of mixed success. It's not like I have gone from triumph to triumph. I have had a couple of books do very, very well and a couple do very, very badly.

You've done so many things and read so many books. Do you still believe in happy endings?"
"Oh my Lord, yes." Bernadette's hands were pressed against each other like a book, like a prayer. "I guess I would. I've had about a hundred of them.

I had a very loyal cult-like following, I feel. And I don't mean to complain about that.

Miss Sarzin was the best teacher I ever had.

I can't say that winning the Pen/Faulkner was a dream come true because I would never have dared to dream it.