I do want to write about social/cultural/historical context. I'm interested in relationships, in character, but within a specific social context. Which is kind of a political thing, I admit that. But it's what I'm interested in, and it's how I believe human behavior is legible.

Although a great restaurant experience must include great food, a bad restaurant experience can be achieved through bad service alone. Ideally, service is invisible. You notice it only when something goes wrong.

The writer has to be brave, I think.

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

Getting an audience requires luck as well as talent. Some artists are private and shy. It costs them too much.

Your memories from your early childhood seem to have such purchase on your emotions. They are so concrete.

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