New York City in life was much like New York City in death. It was still hard to get a cab, for example.

Sanctimony and self-regard are as American as smallpox blankets and supersize meals.

I write the books that I'm compelled to and I definitely learn things about the world when I write them, and I hope that other people get something out of them, enjoy them, see the world differently when they're done.

New York City in life was much like New York City in death. It was still hard to get a cab, for example.

For years I felt that I wasn't ready to take on slavery. It's a huge topic, and I didn't want to mess it up.

I think being a writer was a crappy job when you just had typewriters. It was crappy when we just had ink and paper. And it's sort of crappy now. It's always just you and the page. That doesn't change.

As time went on, we learned to arm ourselves in our different ways. Some of us with real guns, some of us with more ephemeral weapons, an idea or improbable plan or some sort of formulation about how best to move through the world. An idea that will let us be. Protect us and keep us safe. But a weapon nonetheless.