Or even the state of Florida, where they are prepared to execute children. Umm, well, you hope that at least that there is something there to be claimed.

I'm happy to be part of this chorus of people who are trying to tell more complex stories about Haiti.

It's interesting to see people overcome things. Because if you didn't overcome, you wouldn't be writing it.

Create dangerously, for people who read dangerously. ... Writing, knowing in part that no matter how trivial your words may seem, someday, somewhere, someone may risk his or her life to read them.

No one will love you more than you love your pain.

When people think about this religion, they'll say "voodoo" this and "voodoo" that in the way the Hollywood movies show it: the sticking of pins in dolls. It's very different than Vodou - which is a religion that comes to Haiti from our ancestors in Africa. I want to differentiate it from the stereotypical, sensationalized view that we see of the religion.

Whole interaction between the storyteller and the listeners had a very powerful influence on me.