Sherman Alexie

“In high school I dated a white woman. She would come to visit me on the rez. And her dad, who was very racist, didn't like that at all. And he told her one time, 'You shouldn't go on the rez if you're white because Indians have a lot of anger in their heart.'”

“All I owe the world is my art.”

“I'm a method writer. In order to write about the emotion, I have to experience it. I get physically tired and exhausted, devoting hours and hours and hours to it.”

“My father was always depressed. When he was home and sober, he was mostly in his room.”

“You know, people speak in poetry all the time. They just don't realize it.”

“My wife was the first romantic partner who understood both American and native parts of me - not so much the positive stuff, but the damage.”

“I don't have to participate in another culture's ceremonies in order to respect that culture.”

“When you read a piece of writing that you admire, send a note of thanks to the author.”