I've been a teacher at the college level, in composition mostly, and I've been an editor on magazines.

My husband used to take care of the business part of this, and after he died I found I wasn't really any good at it. I hate remembering who owes me what and bugging them if they haven't paid me.

I tend to come up with people more than situations - most of my books start with a character.

If you don't burn the candle at both ends, what's the candle got two ends for?

I was the executive editor on a little magazine called Greek Accent, whose only claim to fame is that its art director went on to be the art director of Discover for many years.

If there is no way out, the best course of action is to find a way further in.

The Internet makes it possible for people like me to live the way I do now. Without it, I'd have to be in New York or some other city. I think the Internet is the greatest invention in history after antibiotics.