There is just too much cruelty, selfishness and corruption in the world not to want to crush the poisonous will of those who cause it by writing about it as powerfully as I can.

I like to think I’ve written something worth reading when I cry the tears of the characters.

Writing is more about telling other peoples' stories than your own

Reading and writing dangerous books lets me be who I can't be and say what I can't say in everyday life.

When I write, I try to represent the voices of people I've known who had no voice.

When I write, it feels like there are two little creatures that sit on each of my shoulders. One whispers, "You can do this. You've got what it takes." The other sounds like my mother-in-law.