The motivation to paint seems more pure, or at least more personal, when the artist is doing it for herself.

From beginning to end, the novel [Dissemblers] took about three and a half years to write. I didn't write it chronologically.

[Ivy Wilkes] loves [Georgia] O'Keeffe's work, but is not satisfied by just looking at the paintings; she wants the painting to be her own. The plot grew naturally out of Ivy's personality (and flaws).

When I finished the book [The Dissemblers], I sent it to one billion agents, and got one billion rejections.

I am currently in nursing school, so one day I will be both a nurse and a writer.

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

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.