I identified in a very deep way with the individuals I was writing about because the theme that runs through this story is of extraordinary hardship and the will to overcome it.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
As a novelist, I have always been interested in how people come to terms with difficult, life-altering events.
All stories interest me, and some haunt me until I end up writing them. Certain themes keep coming up: justice, loyalty, violence, death, political and social issues, freedom.
The intricacies, the problems, the trials and tribulations in relationships inspire me to give words to people's journeys.
It's always been my hope that I would write a story that would inspire and would connect with people in a way that would touch hearts.
I write about the trials and triumphs of contemporary life - and often the readers see themselves between the lines of the story.
Every story I write starts with a dilemma or a theme. Once I am convinced that this is the issue that is perturbing my thoughts, I start to look for characters capable of representing it.
I adore themes of hope and courage and the ways we find meaning through suffering.
I'm always touched by people's different stories of who they are and why they made the choices that they made. I feel so empowered by the story behind the person.
I think understanding your life as a story is a really terrific way of kind of knowing where you are and knowing who you are.
Everything is an open book. I don't speak on other people's hardship, but if it happened in my life or something that has been an experience on my particular journey, I'm going to talk about it. That's what my fan base appreciates the most. I'm universal. You can relate to the things I say or that I go through.