For a novelist, the gaps in a story are as intriguing as material that still exists.

Writing about the 1950s has given me tremendous respect for my mother's generation.

To me, reading through old letters and journals is like treasure hunting. Somewhere in those faded, handwritten lines there is a story that has been packed away in a dusty old box for years.

Often we don't notice the stringent rules to which our culture subjects us.

At the end of the day, that's what a family is - a group of different people who accept each other.

I jealously guard my research time and I love fully immersing myself in those dusty old books and papers. It's one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.

Researching books gets you into nothing but trouble.