When you're in the world looking for only one thing, you find it or it finds you. The obsession can be mutual

Different genres allow me to not feel so hemmed in by my own voice, tics, style.

Writing across genres has made me more prolific. When one is fighting me or simply not cutting it, I turn to another.

My oldest sister was an actress living in NYC by the time I was ten, and desperately wanted to be the one in charge of the words.

I always think I know the way a novel will go. I write maps on oversized art pads like the kind I carried around in college when I was earnest about drawing. I need to have some idea of the shape of the novel, where its headed, so that I can proceed with confidence. But the truth is my characters start doing and saying things I don't expect.

The fact is there are many women who nod politely, even agree openly within their male-dominated often highly educated cultures, but vote their own minds.

Some of the best work done to combat the Republicans has been wit and humor.