I started writing about New Mexico in an autobiography class I was taking for school, and realized that it was very inspiring place for me.

Publishing requires a lot of persistence and a fair amount of luck.

I was at an art museum with my parents, and was quite taken with a [Vincent] Van Gogh painting. I stood admiring the painting for some time, and then realized that in addition to feeling moved by the beauty of the painting, I felt a little jealous of the painter.

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

I am a tragically bad artist.

I've spent many a day worrying that I will never be able to write again!

I did make several trips to the very wonderful [Georgia] O'Keeffe museum. Besides the art (my favorite paintings are from her Pelvis series) my favorite thing about the museum is the architecture. I love how enormously tall the doors are - it is like going into a church. There is also something home-like about the layout of the museum. I wish I could live there!