When I left Iowa, I definitely never wanted to stand in front of a group of academics again and see if they approved of me. I made up my mind to take my work to the actual reading public.

When I left Iowa, I definitely never wanted to stand in front of a group of academics again and see if they approved of me. I made up my mind to take my work to the actual reading public.

The opening novel of the 'Bayou Trilogy' was the first one I finished.

I felt like a number of things in me as a writer just clicked.

There's an overlap between social-realist fiction and crime fiction - a sweet spot there.

Long, dark, and lovely she had been, in those days before her mind broke and the parts scattered and she let them go.

I said shut up once already, with my mouth.