I am a tragically bad artist.

This was my first novel [The Dissemblers ]. I've never seriously written short stories, and actually find short stories much more intimidating as an art form than novels.

The book [The Dissemblers] officially came out two weeks after my thirtieth birthday...am I still young?

One thing that was inspiring to me in my research about [Georgia] O'Keeffe was to learn that in addition to her success she had very hard times, and times when she was frustrated and uninspired.

I was loosely aware that most of my characters were fundamentally selfish people, but I didn't intentionally make that a theme.

Does art play a role in the greater good of society, or does it just promote the satisfaction of the artist? I go back and forth on that question.

I did take one drawing class in school, but for this book I spent a lot of time talking to painters and asking them silly questions.