The stories are what no one wants to talk about. So you make up a story because no one is going to tell you the truth.

Catholicism believes in the Virgen de Guadalupe. The mother of God is worshipped, especially in Latin America. I find her very empowering. I find that the Virgen de Guadalupe allowed me to return to parts of my upbringing I had disregarded.

The ability to be present with every single person and engage was a great model for me of the work that a writer needs to do. Writers, living or dead, still guide me in many ways.

I grew up with this kind of grocery store that caters to the poor. They serve you the worst food.

When I was very young I was reading a lot of Latin American fiction, which later would be called "boom fiction."

My idea of a meal, if I was hungry, was to open a bag of potato chips.

When your writing is unselfconscious, when it comes from your heart, that's when it's powerful.