As a child, I wanted to be an athlete, a professional tennis player or something like that.

My sophomore English teacher encouraged me to write for the school paper, and that's what got me started. Suddenly it struck me that being a writer could be a romantic and adventurous position. Previously, I had thought I would be a tennis pro, giving lessons at a local club. I thought that would be a good life, and it might have been.

I wish we had a dog in the show so that I could get to be a dog for a day.

For me, books have always been a way to feel less alone while being alone.

I live for coincidences. They briefly give to me the illusion or the hope that there's a pattern to my life, and if there's a pattern, then maybe I'm moving toward some kind of destiny where it's all explained.

I don't laugh that much, but I do like humorous books, and I like to entertain readers that way.

I didn't play or like a lot of board games as a child. I liked playing with my G.I. Joes and making up adventures for them.