I love developing children as characters. Children rarely have important roles in literary fiction - they are usually defined as cute or precious, or they create a plot by being kidnapped or dying.

Do you think its possible to live without wanting to put your name on your paintings? To belong to a group so securely you don't need to rise above it?

But kids don't stay with you if you do it right. It's the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.

Every betrayal contains a perfect moment, a coin stamped heads or tails with salvation on the other side.

Why is it that only girls stand on the sides of their feet? As if they're afraid to plant themselves?

I write every moment that is humanly possible. I write every day and every night. The only discipline I lack is the discipline is to quit.

Our childhood had passed over into history overnight. The transition was unnoticed by anyone but ourselves.