There are relatively few science fiction or fantasy books with the main character being an old person.

I regarded drugs as somewhat like rattlesnakes - it's possible to pick one up without getting bit, but why bother?

What it boils down to is that parenting a child with autism is a difficult job; writing about it is far easier.

Now my mother, interestingly enough, was not a feminist in her own mind.

I love biomedical science, I love astronomy, and you can't really do much with those in a fantasy setting.

When I was starting out, I did not do short fiction well, because I kept wanting to write books.

Other people, including me, have written books with main characters who were old and rich. Or old and brilliant. Old sages, old wizards, old rich people.