Q. What is your motto or maxim?

A. All of writing is rewriting.

Q. With whom in history do you most identify?

A. A scullery maid working for Virginia Wolfe in Bloomsbury. Or maybe V.W.'s cook.

Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?

A. Far too many to name.

Q. What do you regret most?

A. The people I've lost and the things we didn't have a chance to laugh together about.

Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?

A. "Just" and "that." I have to take a million of them out of every ms.