It's a beautiful aspect of narrative construction, hunting for the right images and metaphors to render our character's hearts/minds/souls as though they're ecosystems, full-fledged settings for a reader to inhabit like a place.

I just thought it was important that people knew right from the jump that I've got problems. But in all seriousness, that's a huge part of my writing process.

I'm a semi-failed writer, but I'm a capital-F Failed musician.

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

The question why, at least in my life, often leads to despair. Why did this happen to me? Why didn't someone who claimed to love me treat me with respect, compassion, kindness? Etc. These questions never have answers. They are an ocean, and you'll never swim to the other side. Eventually, you'll tire and die.

No matter what we've done, no matter the disappointments and sullied blunders, today is the opportunity to do right by ourselves.

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