I don't know of a greater privilege than being allowed to tell a story, or to listen to a story. They're the only thing we have that can trump life itself.

Ultimately, you can only ever write what you know. It's logically and philosophically impossible to write what you don't know.

I have the most charmed, most - I feel entirely blessed and lucky that I have the life that I have.

About 25 years ago, I took a bicycle across the United States. I soon found out that the greatest item of clothing was the trusty bandanna. There were dozens of uses for a bandanna - as a pot holder, a chain cleaner, a sun shield, a headband, a snot rag, a declaration of Kerouacian intent.

Stories are the best democracy we have. We are allowed to become the other we never dreamed we could be.

Pain's nothing. Pain's what you give, not what you get.

She's always thought that one of the beauties of New York is that you can be from anywhere and within moments of landing its yours.