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At that time, I had recently finished a book called Amazing Grace, which many people tell me is a very painful book to read. Well, if it was painful to read, it was also painful to write. I had pains in my chest for two years while I was writing that book.

I read almost exclusively nonfiction when I read, because even though it's harder to find a great true story, when you find one, the idea that it actually happened is immensely powerful.That's what moves me the most.

I quickly realized I live the least interesting literary life imaginable. My parents are happily married. There haven't been any major traumas. I'm not sure that the story of my life would be much fun to read.

Ever since I was young, I've read Austen and the Brontes. My friends laugh, but those books are always so tragic and wonderful - those stories, they're just incredible.

I majored in English in college, so I read the classic dystopian novels like '1984' and 'Brave New World.'

I don't reread my books after they're published, because it's agony.

Writing nonfiction has been my most serious education, and for all those years it kept me from even glancing in the direction of despair.

The American story is a story of great moments and dreadful moments.

I never read. The paper or anything. I watch a lot of movies, and TV series and stuff. But I never, never read.

The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. It was really bad and thankfully no one ever saw it.