on the day that the intlligence and talents of women are fully honored and employed, the human community and the planet itself will benefit in ways we can only begin to imagine.

The other reason women wanted daughters was to keep their memories alive.

I got nice rejections explaining that historical fiction was a difficult sell. But I kept trying.

I lived through a classic publishing story. My editor was fired a month before the book came out. The editor who took it over already had a full plate. It was never advertised. We didn't get reviewed in any major outlets.

There's nothing quite like a real . . . train conductor to add color to a quotidian commute

I am so honored to be the vessel into which you pour this story of pain and strength.

I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. And only write what you love.