I think this is something that is naturally built in in people, a need for attention and a need to be special and we are always trying to find a balance.

I am very active on Twitter and one thing that keeps popping up is "How do I balance having a kid and writing?" And I know it should not be as aggravating, but I know no one ever asks a male writer that. Or, any male that.

I would never tell myself, you have to write 20 pages today or something. But I do try to show up. Read what I wrote, fix things.

There is something about Midwest in general, that has kind of an underdog quality.

The people are maybe still as aware of the differences but they are more accepting of it that what we saw in the 70s and 80s, but the undercurrent is still there. There are maybe no racial slurs anymore, no firecrackers in mailboxes, the distinction is much more subtle.

If you told people you were moving to Ohio, they wouldn't congratulate you. They'd say "OH WHY would you move there?" as if that was something that happened to you and you had to deal with.

I think this is something that is naturally built in in people, a need for attention and a need to be special and we are always trying to find a balance.