Children should have enough freedom to be themselves - once they've learned the rules.

I don't do research for my novels. Obviously, in my other line of work as a reporter and a columnist, I've had the opportunity to get to know both social workers and TV talk-show hosts.

Not writing at all leads to nothing.

Frankly, I'm mainly telling the story to myself. Thinking about audience is too daunting, and worst case, invites you to homogenize, to soften the hard edges of things.

I hope readers will do what I do when I read a novel I like: talk in ways that will illuminate their own lives.

You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.

I love having a president who I think is smarter than I am.