Reading was my escape growing up in Ohio. Both of my parents lost their jobs when I was a teen, and it was hard. But I always had my books. Reading gave me a way of living different lives.

I have such admiration and respect for the military and military families.

The worst job I ever had was working in the call center of an electric company. I sat in a tiny cubicle getting yelled at every day so I could earn minimum wage.

Just for me - obviously, not all writers think this - but for me, I feel like seeing my book in Target and Barnes & Noble is pretty successful.

I've had a lot of careers in my life. When I think about it, I think every piece of that - from being a nurse, a farmer, dealing with real estate - has added to a skill set that I would have been able to use throughout my political career.

My mother's career was over at 40 but she was still trying to be everyone's buddy, always smiling for the cameras.

I am not bothered about my career graph, as I am someone who doesn't believe in planning things.

I want to be able to say that a rap career could be ten albums.