I always think the novelist should go to the culture's dark places and poke around. Pose a lot of hard questions.

When I write characters, I need to hear their voice. As soon as I get them speaking, and I feel how they use language, I understand who they are and what they want.

I try to write about how we live today, how we use language, technology, our bodies.

People think it's suspect and self-indulgent to make art, and I don't think that's true. Some people think you should be busy making something that you can sell in the marketplace, and if nobody wants to buy it, it must be crap. And that's not true.

The writer has to be brave, I think.

I like to buy books for the kids in my family. I guess that's why they call me the 'mean' aunt.

Usually there is a paradox in what a character wants. A conflict is built deeply within them. And then you put them in motion, throw everything at them until they reveal themselves further.