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I love reading religious authors. Especially in the sort of circle I move in, people tend to be more secular, and I love reading books by just really smart people of religious faith. It's always a really cool perspective.

At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.

It's not just what Christian fiction lacks I appreciate - it's what it offers. The variety is vast: contemporary, historical, suspense, mysteries, adventure, young adult, romance, fantasy, science fiction.

Books in general are great, but I'm a fiction lover, and I will continue to do it.

I find books that have a moral and spiritual center, that speak to what is really important and lasting, hugely appealing.

I like to read really good books - anything that's really great, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, how-to, or whatever.

But I don't read a lot of fiction. I prefer the nonfiction stuff.

I obviously read and adore traditional fiction. I teach traditional fiction; I also teach all kinds of not-so-traditional fiction.

There are some Christian people who taste and see and enjoy religion in their own souls, and who get at a deeper knowledge of it than books can ever give them, though they should search all their days.

I'm an ecumenical reader, grew up with all sorts of fiction, teach writing, went to the Iowa Writers' Workshop, so my tastes and interests are broad.