Within walking distance of any spot on Earth there's probably more than enough mystery to investigate in a lifetime.

Usually, ordinary histories don't get the emotional feel of a period. That's what a novel can do.

In my books, my idea is always to explore social context and social forces.

When farming became a corporate venture, and the distribution of food became corporate, the variety of foods that were considered good diminished greatly. I know that there's a lot of misconception about this, that people think we have more food variety than ever before, but, in fact, if you read any of the studies, you'll find we have fewer foods than before.

Solitude offers a lot that being coupled or being in a group does not. It helps us learn what we are capable of.

Many people spend the ends of their lives alone, and probably a lot of years in the middle of their lives, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience the rewards of solitude.

Being alone for a woman is probably much more scary than for a man. I'm all for getting over our fears by facing them head-on.