My mother told me many stories about her childhood in Cuba. Living there had a profound impact on her and how she regards herself.

One is sometimes meant to reassure the reader that she's qualified to write about a certain topic.

I don't think a woman riding a motorcycle thinks of herself as doing something that has sex appeal. I think she's trying to replicate for herself an experience that she sees men having.

I've had many mentors, but the one that has the most impact was my mother.

My older brother, Jake, and I had a bohemian childhood. My parents are deeply unconventional people from the beatnik generation. They weren't married, and I thought that was normal. We called them by their first names.

My older brother, Jake, and I had a bohemian childhood. My parents are deeply unconventional people from the beatnik generation. They weren't married, and I thought that was normal. We called them by their first names.