There's always things that you know about that nobody else, because everybody's life is different. So you write about what you know. That's number one.

The husbands, who sometimes have another family who's grown, are going, Now I can spend time with my baby. Oh yeah, I bet your other family is really thrilled.

I write about real people in disguise. If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre.

I write synopses after the book is completed. I can't write it beforehand, because I don't know what the book's about. I invent something for my publisher because he asks for one, but the final book ends up very differently.

I write about the American dream: if you set your mind to do something, you can do it. My fans know they're getting the real thing.

I was never confident about finishing a book, but friends encouraged me. When I finished my first book, it was accepted by a publisher right away and became an instant bestseller. One male critic called it the most shocking book he ever read.

Agents are essential, because publishers will not read unsolicited manuscripts.