When you feel lousy, puppy therapy is indicated.

I always wrote; my first story was published in the magazine The American Girl when I was 11

All food starting with p is comfort food: pasta, potato chips, pretzels, peanut butter, pastrami, Pizza, pastry.

Write what you care about.

If you're born lucky, you don't have to be good.

My parents were liberal intellectuals but even they expected me to stay at home and look after my younger siblings and do the housework.

You have to be a ruthless editor of your own prose. Over the years, I've learned that the best way to incorporate research into the narrative is to turn it into action.