I'm a writer, not a professional runner. It's fun and it helps me write. I need powerful concentration.

I think history is collective memories. In writing, I'm using my own memory, and I'm using my collective memory.

Sometimes I wonder why I'm a novelist right now. There is no definite career reason why I became a writer. Something happened, and I became a writer. And now I'm a successful writer.

I had no ambition to be a writer because the books I read were too good, my standards were too high.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

If you're open and honest, you find that people genuinely want to help you out. Taking advice from others can enhance your relationship, especially if you can laugh about things.

There were a lot of times I'd hide in my locker and jump out and surprise people. Whenever friends would come by, I'd open the locker and hit' em.

My concept of an advice giver had been a therapist or a know-it-all, and then I realized nobody listens to the know-it-alls. You turn to the people you know, the friend who has been in the thick of it or messed up - and I'm that person for sure.