Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.

I smoked for many years like a total idiot.

It's good to try stuff. I wrote a book that I threw away, and I think I just wrote it so I could try stuff in it and not be scared

In 1998, I started a blog, something I could control very easily and update at my own whim.

In the wintertime I like macaroni and cheese.

I'm not that much of a researcher. I'm good at channeling characters, and I'm good at structure.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is a breezy, big-hearted treat, especially if you've ever wondered about the inner workings of America's national treasures--neighborhood bookstores.