Publishing in a way doesn't have a lot to do with writing, and writing doesn't have a lot to do with publishing.

History releases me from my own experience and jogs my fictional imagination.

Idea of the generations continuing is really important. And that's interesting to me. I write about families; I'm interested in families. Even though I think a family can be just two people or two people and a dog, I really wanted children for that reason.

Publishing in a way doesn't have a lot to do with writing, and writing doesn't have a lot to do with publishing.

The past always sort of haunts us and perhaps inspires us in some ways.

As writers, we don't just need to write about poverty or war or the immigrant experience.

I think that when the world feels safe and secure, we probably feel more that way in our personal lives. What goes on in the world affects us, unequivocally.