For my own family, I would always choose the makeshift, surrogate family formed by various characters unrelated by blood.

When I'm working on something, I proceed as if no one else will ever read it.

But what I hope for from a book - either one that I write or one that I read - is transparency. I want the story to shine through. I don't want to think of the writer.

It seems to me that since I've had children, I've grown richer and deeper. They may have slowed down my writing for a while, but when I did write, I had more of a self to speak from.

I think I was born with the impression that what happened in books was much more reasonable, and interesting, and real, in some ways, than what happened in life.

There is no sound more peaceful than rain on the roof, if you're safe asleep in someone else's house.

It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.