Brownstein's is a fresh and jaunty voice, with a jazz snap all his own.

As a writer, I don't think it's my responsibility to make a point. I just write and hope there's someone who'll like it.

Whether I'm critically well received, whether or not I sell books - of course it becomes progressively harder to get them published - nevertheless, it's what I do, every day.

I think powerful women don't care whether or not they're liked.

If you want to be a writer, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and I had a manual typewriter. It doesn't cost money to write. It costs money to make art. So I would just write. I would hand out stories in the classes in high school. And the teacher would say, "Whatever you do, don't become a writer."

Most of my life is just spent lying in bed. I mean, it's enough pressure to write the words. Do I need to use the additional energy exerted by sitting up?

I was like a social worker for lepers. My clients had a chunk of their body they wanted to give away; for a price I was there to receive it.