I was raised in rural south Jersey, and there was no culture there. There was a small library, and that was it. There was nothing else.

I'd never had people drive me around, and then all of a sudden, if a car didn't come, I'd say, "Where's my car?"

A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people [but] you just keep doing your work - because you have to, because it’s your calling.

Most women writers don't interest me because they're hung up with being a woman, they're hung up with being Jewish, they're hung up with being somebody or other. Rather than just going, just spurting, just creating.

People called me the godmother of punk, but I never name myself anything.

Sure I destroyed my guitar at every concert, but it was okay, because I'd always get a shiny new one the very next day.

I just like living in certain atmospheres. Or I just like people as they are.