My ambition was to live like music.

Death is a big theme in the book, illness. What is that? It's a fact that human beings - no matter who they are, no matter how healthy or strong or beautiful they are - are going to age and become weak and ugly by a certain standard, and die. And I think that's a terrifying idea for people to get their minds around.

I think the closest thing I can come to defining what that vital thing is for me - is that there's a sort of soul-quality in writing, if it's any good. It has a spirit or an energy to it that is very integral to who the writer is on a deep level. It's almost a cellular thing. It takes place in the cells of the writing, and it is what makes it alive or not.

I know several women my age who are really poor...because they spent most of their energy taking care of children.

The art of integrating the ego and the impulse for empathy in a dynamic call and response.

Somebody once said to me if you want to be understood, don't write fiction.

I focus more on the spiritual or psychic gains.