Shamefulness is always a huge part of my characterizations. I like protagonists that reveal, either through "honesty" in their various thought processes or via their actions, perhaps telling us things they're not so keen on disclosing through their interactions with the outside world. Probably both during the duration of a novel.

Memoirs need confusion. It's the thing every human has in common. We are magnificently confused.

My tunnel vision allows me to have a longer work day than most writers. I'm thankful for that.

My father deprived me of any truths about himself. He died without ever letting me know who he truly was. I only knew his facades, basically. And it breaks my heart that he never trusted me enough to tell me the truth.

I always joke that every novel is really about the same thing: one person's struggle against society.

My job as the novelist is to present the whole case, then the reader gets to render her verdict.

If a character is honest with a reader, then (hopefully) that will engage the reader's empathy centers; she'll meet that openness with acceptance, and they'll forge a nourishing and meaningful bond as the book continues.