If you want to understand any woman, you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully.

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.

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.

The more I do bookstores, the more people come up to me from church groups. I spoke at Pittsburg State College and had 2 or 3 ministers and book groups from a couple of churches.

My heart is a ladle of sweet water brimming over.

Since 1985, I have written about contemporary Jewish practice and the Jewish community.

I love many kinds of music: world music, jazz, classical, pop.