In my earliest memory, my grandfather is bald as a stone and he takes me to see the tigers.

A lot of writers that I know have told me that the first book you write, you write about your childhood, whether you want to or not. It calls you back.

I am very interested in place, and the influences of place on characters.

When you're in a place, the details you focus on are different than details you focus on when you're writing about it.

My family lived in Egypt from 1993 to 1996.

Being taken seriously, for a young writer, is a wonderful form of encouragement, but at the same time, I don't think one should ever feel like attempting a kind of artistic endeavor is beyond your scope just because of age or inexperience.

Come on, is your heart a sponge or a fist?