I don't consider myself attractive. I'm an academic, and in academia, people will write you off if you look younger.

I think humor is like a shield that lets you get as close to the sad sad flame as possible - far closer, oftentimes, than drama.

exercise will never be my lover. Or even my friend. For me, a workout is more like an annoying coworker I have to see a few times a week.

During my MFA, I was lucky to be surrounded by a really supportive group of peers. And now I get feedback pretty exclusively from freaks only.

Las Vegas is incredible. Either you love it or you're a classy person with morals. I fall into the former category. It's definitely bled into my writing.

If you're a beautiful Caucasian woman, and you commit a heinous crime, it's like people don't want to acknowledge the reality of your actions.

I'm a big people pleaser; I had a very awkward adolescence. Part of me is still that person who wants everyone to like me.

I've seen men in $5,000 suits urinate in public fountains here. Las Vegas is the best place on earth.

I really want readers to put themselves into the shoes of each character. So the opening lines are an orienting technique: this is where you are, this is who you are. Go.

My writing circle isn't too full of people who fall into the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought Tuesdays With Morrie" category.

Luckily I'm on prescription drugs that prevent me from worrying about anything too much.

Folly is strong

We have a racially based justice system that overpunishes, fails to rehabilitate, and doesn't make us safer.

Criticism in good faith is good. When it's targeted solely to destruction, I'm not interested.

Memory has always been social. Now we're using search engines and computers to augment our memories, too.

All innovation begins with vision. It’s what happens next that is critical.

Christmas means 'giving,' and the gift without the giver is bare. Give of yourselves; give of your substance; give of your heart and mind.

My father, I never knew, except for this one time when he threw a ball and told me to go fetch it. "Dad," I said. "Am I a dog?" "Lydia," he said. "I apologize.

Humans are vulnerable, messy little animals and that's normal. And all I want to do is make a space for that in my films.

Never prod at a woman unless you must. She will kill you faster than a man and for less reason, even if she weeps over it after.

Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 22.