We must, we must, we must increase our bust.

I stop and think before I start a new book and ask myself do I really want to spend the next year or two or three with these characters because if I don't, then I shouldn't be writing about them.

I thought [books ban] was crazy. Really my thoughts were "This is America, we don't do this here" but of course I know a lot better now. And I wasn't the only one. Norma Klein was writing at the same time. Her books were going. So many of us. When you say to me, no you can't do this I say, oh yes I can.

My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book. They become so real to me, I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands.

There's no book or play or series or anything that speaks to everyone, because then it wouldn't speak to anyone.

[Writing] totally changed my life. It gave me my life. Everything opened up.

That's my anxiety dream. I go to the library and all the books on my subject are out.