Months are different in college, especially freshman year. Too much happens. Every freshman month equals six regular months—they're like dog months.

But there's nothing more profound than creating something out of nothing.

I had this whole plan when I graduated high school: I was going to go to college, date a few guys, and then meet THE guy at the end of my freshman year, maybe at the beginning of my sophomore year. We'd be engaged by graduation and married the next year. And then, after some traveling, we'd start our family. Four kids, three years apart. I wanted to be done by the time I was 35.

I take something that happened to me in 1983, and I make it happen to somebody else in 1943. I pick my life apart that way, try to understand it better by writing straight through it.

There are moments when you can't believe something wonderful is happening. And there are moments when your entire consciousness is filled with knowing absolutely that something wonderful is happening.

I wrote all four of my books at Starbucks.

You act like there are two kinds of girls,' she said. 'The smart ones and the ones that boys like.