Words were different when they lived inside of you.

Absent parents aren't abusive per se. They're neglectful. They love in a very imperfect way. There are parents like that, and they do love their daughters and sons, but they're not parents in the way that we might think of it.

You are thirst and thirst is all I know

Words were different when they lived inside of you.

I do that with all of my characters. They have one of the flaws I have, and I zero in on that flaw.

The heart can get really cold if all you've known is winter.

We have this huge discourse on family in this country, but no one deconstructs it the same way. People talk about "the American family." The right wing has this thing - Focus on the Family. What the hell is that? I don't want to just discuss the issues - I want family to be a real part of the character of the novels I write, and I don't like to write things that feel like issue books.