My parents had an arranged marriage, as did so many other people when I was growing up. My father came and had a life in the United States one way and my mother had a different one, and I was very aware of those things. I continue to wonder about it, and I will continue to write about it.

...that in spite of living in a mansion an American is not above wearing a pair of secondhand pants, bought for fifty cents.

In New York I was always so scared of saying that I wrote fiction. It just seemed like, 'Who am I to dare to do that thing here? The epicenter of publishing and writers?' I found all that very intimidating and avoided writing as a response.

That the last two letters in her name were the first two in his, a silly thing he never mentioned to her but caused him to believe that they were bound together.

I would not send a first story anywhere. I would give myself time to write a number of stories.

With children the clock is reset. We forget what came before

Do what I will never do.