Folks want to glow, to leave their worries and dead skin behind.

I try to create characters that I am fascinated by on some level or intrigued by or can't stand.

Why is it that if you happen to be black and over six feet tall, everybody thinks you supposed to play basketball or football?

I'm more interested in interpersonal relationships - between lovers families, siblings. That's why I write about how we treat each other.

We never thought some guy would deliberately fill our hearts with brown sugar and then pour hot water all over it.

Don't worry about how pretty (the story) sounds, how lilting it is, and the imagery, and the metaphor, all that. Most readers don't care. It's the people in your book that matter.

I'd crack up without my music. It's the best company you can have, really. It don't say 'no' or 'maybe,' or ask no questions.