Well, I think in my first two novels, both the characters are pretty neurotic, which I would say that I am.

Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a waste of time.

Probably I, like a lot of people, became a writer in imitation of or in homage to the books I enjoyed. When you're so captivated by something, you think, could I do that? Hmm, let me try

We all make mistakes, don't we? But if you can't forgive yourself, you'll always be an exile in your own life.

People who think my books are autobiographical, which they're not, credit me with having a much better memory than I do. I do, however, have a powerful imagination

I don't really have special rituals, but I don't try to write fiction unless I have a minimum of a few hours. For me, it takes a while to settle into a mode where I'm truly concentrating

We have to make mistakes, its how we learn compassion for others

I always worried someone would notice me, and then when no one did, I felt lonely.

Obviously the bar is much higher now for a behavior to be scandalous. Social media has really changed the way people live. It's not a new impulse; it's just being enacted in a new way.

I don't think it's shameful to admit that some days your time can be better spent reading than writing.

I have this theory that the likeability question comes up so much more with female characters created by female authors than it does with male characters and male authors

Focus your business on what you do best. Let everyone else worry about the rest.

Our true spirit can never become diseased or distressed.

You have to believe in yourself, that you're gonna succeed.

We are what we have been told about ourselves. We are the sum of the messages we have received. The true messages. The false messages.

Global markets have a much bigger effect on prices and wages in the U.S. and elsewhere than they did before.

Men always want to be a woman's first love. That is their clumsy vanity. We women have a more subtle instinct about things.

I've been accused of wanting to allow terrorists to have weapons to attack America.

I feel as healthy as I've ever felt.

One should love animals. They are so tasty.

It is often said that in Ireland there is an excess of genius unsustained by talent; but there is talent in the tongues.