Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.

I had been born shoved to the margins of the world, sure, but I had volunteered for the pits.

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

I said shut up once already, with my mouth.

I'm not one of these people who thinks everyone born into privilege should wear sack cloth and ashes. But it's something I wrestle with. I know a lot of people who live below the poverty level and have for a long time and it makes them uneasy to think they'll have to interact with people from different economic levels. Everyone has some sort of load put on them, whatever the circumstances they're born into.

I didn't really expect to be coming to the Oscars.

I always loved the verve and vivacity of pulp and I kind of merged it with my own interest in family stories.