I tell people to write the stories that you're afraid to talk about, the stories you wish you'd forget, because those have the most power. Those are the ones that have the most strength when you give them as a testimony.

If you're going to write about the river, you've got to get in.

You have to remember that writing itself is so solitary. You start writing because you're lonely.

I was interested in cross-pollinating the two. I thought there was something lovely in the little vignette forms. I wanted to explore that.

I think diseases have no eyes. They pick with a dizzy finger anyone, just anyone.

I think that you need to have books that talk about the lives of the poor, and they need to be involved - involved in acquisitions.

Packing is important because a lot of times I have to go places where I have to be in four different climates in three weeks. For example, Bosnia, Ireland, Rome. Different parts of Italy. You have to pack and get it down to a science.