We often do not see what we do not expect to see.

For my students who are trying to learn the craft of writing in a writing class - contemporary literature is what's most useful.

Franz Kafka is an idea person. His books begin and end in ideas. Ideas have always been important to me in my writing. To the point that I have to be careful that they don't take over.

I think all tragedies are best told with some humor. You have to relieve the darkness to let the reader get through it. Also, that life has happiness and sadness mixed together. If you told a story that was all darkness, it wouldn't be real.

Each time is true, but the truths are not the same.

I think Joe Leiberman has been one of the leaders of the country... people have such a broad respect for him as a moral force.

I value my correspondence with writers...I was in New York and had lunch with Oliver Sachs and compared notes with him - he is someone I really like. I love staying in written correspondence with some writers. That's enough for me.