I grew up in Cyprus and Egypt, these fantastic places I remember fondly.

My family lived in Egypt from 1993 to 1996.

I grew up on Loretta Lynn and Dusty Springfield. I remember lying about it; it wasn't cool to listen to country when I was 12.

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

I think the mythology of death really ran away with me when I was very young.

When I hit a block, regardless of what I am writing, what the subject matter is, or what's going on in the plot, I go back and I read Pablo Neruda's poetry. I don't actually speak Spanish, so I read it translation. But I always go back to Neruda. I don't know why, but it calms me, calms my brain.