I think the past is something I have spent a lot of time thinking about, not only what is different about the past but what's the same, and what links us to the past.

I think there's a lot that we remember almost chemically, through our DNA.

I am very into genealogy and heritage, and that's how I started writing.

I would not give up a lot of what I know about my heritage. I would not give up knowing where I came from, the good parts and the bad parts.

I never have the feeling that I actually know what I'm doing or anything that I'm writing is any good.

I think [it's necessary to accept] things that are just true about yourself: These are my faults, these are the things I'm good at, this is where I came from, this is where I didn't come from. I think happy people are the ones who have made peace with those truths and acknowledged them, and learned to use them and live with them.

I would never say that I'm not going to do something. I like not being limited.