The way we started was, Alison [McGhee] said, 'Tall girl, short girl.' We had no plans beyond that.

I feel like I've been blessed. I see the world through stories.

I love words; I love the way they sound. Once I've worked on everything else, the last drafts of my books come down to how they sound.

The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story.

So many miracles have not yet happened.

I write two pages - that's all I write. It takes me about an hour. I've learned that's all I'm capable of and to push myself beyond that is foolhardy. It's a very delicate thing, and I will not abuse it. So I write two pages, then I get up from the computer.

I want to remind people of the great and profound joy that can be found in stories, and that stories can connect us to each other, and that reading together changes everybody involved.