...History it seemed could be something entirely different a splash of blood whose agony didn't fade overnight or over centuries.

Every writer hopes his or her book will be its own thing.

Bulgarians eat tarator every single day in summer. They think of it as salad although we'd call it a soup. You can make it as thick or thin as you like depending on how much water you add. It's very practical in summer because yogurt cools the body faster than water, but the water hydrates you.

My publishers are wonderful because they have let me write what I wanted to. They're wise enough to know that, with any author who's not simply writing formulas - who's trying to create something new - pressuring them to do something for market purposes almost always backfires. I can't imagine working under those circumstances, actually.

In the end, I always act from the heart, even if I also value reason and tradition. I wish I could explain why, but I don't know.

You are a total stranger and you want to take my library book.

There is nothing harder, at moments, than talking to someone who has all the power of silence.