The truth is that I'm never sure how any of my books will be received, and because I can be thin-skinned, I try not to read too many reviews when a book first comes out.

When you break the heart of the philosopher, you must apply great force and cunning strategy, but when the deed is completed, the heart lies in great stony ruin at your feet. If you succeed in breaking it, the job is done once and for all. It will not be repaired.

Try to get your characters into interesting trouble. Allow your characters to misbehave. Let them stay out after 11.

When blame has been assigned, the story is over.

Savor the imminent weirdness of the day.

You think that what I've told you is an anecdote. But really it isn't. It's my whole life. It's the only story I have.

If you want to see the consequences of ideas, write a story. If you want to see the consequences of belief, write a story in which somebody is acting on the ideas or beliefs that she has.