In March of 2001, I revisited the short story, and found that thought it did not work well as a short story, it might work much better as a longer one. The novel [The Kite Runner] came about as an expansion of that original, unpublished short story.

You’re not going to cry, are you? - I am not going to cry! Not over you. Not in a thousand years.

In the end, the world always wins. That's just the way of things.

The images [of The Kite Runner grafic] were created in Fabio Celoni's mind. I chose to let him take the lead. Fabio and I did exchange an e-mail or two, but it was my intention to step out of the way and let his artistic instincts take over.

I think the emancipation of women in Afghanistan has to come from inside, through Afghans themselves, gradually, over time.

Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything

A sudden happiness catches me unawares. I feel it trickling into me, and my eyes go liquid with gratitude and hope.