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

You don't have to be the specialist on everything. You can try to inform yourself.

When I was writing Caramelo the last couple of years, a sixty-hour work week was normal. And now I'm lucky if I have eight hours.

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

I think a lot of education has to be involved. If they would have alternative items, so that, say, for a dollar more, you can get breakfast tacos stuffed with egg whites, and olive oil, and avocado; not guacamole, because they put the salt in it. Just ask for fresh avocado slices, and you could have that.

I'm from Chicago, so the Chicago working-class poets still mean a great deal to me.

I don't want to blame anybody, but I just want to tell you that the process of writing is antisocial, so on the days that you have something really important to write, go from lying down directly to your notepad or your computer. Do not talk.