In Japan, it's strange to openly take credit for giving to charity or even to donate publicly.

In medieval Europe, childbirth was a leading cause of death. So widowed fathers with children were quite common, meaning stepmothers were equally common.

People of different ethnicities are definitely not of differing species. Biologically speaking, people are people.

Since I tend to write chronologically, the middle is always the place where the process is most taxing.

I'd hasten to say that the prejudice in Dust City isn't completely analogous to racism in the real world.

If some readers take away the idea that animals deserve better treatment in general, then I certainly won't argue.

Destiny isn't immutable. You can change your fate. But I'd say the only way to do it is with hard, intelligent work and long-term dedication to a goal.