What is your greatest fear?

That my mind will die before I do.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Emmeline Pankhurst, the English suffragist and humanitarian.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mom and my husband, two completely good people.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Greed.

Which living person do you most despise?

All the kleptocrats, strongmen, and control monsters who perpetuate human misery.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I think I’ve said “Yes, he is just as funny at home” about as many times as I can stand.

What is your greatest regret?

That my father didn’t live longer.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

James Douglas Muir Leno.

When and where were you happiest?

I’ve been happy all my adult life, knowing that no matter how bad things are I never have to live through junior high again.

What is your current state of mind?

Grimly determined.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

I’d quite like to be Dana Scully, but with a slightly livelier sex life.

What is your most treasured possession?

The love and respect of those I love and respect.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

That every person and animal you love doesn’t live at least as long as you do.

Where would you like to live?

I’m happy where I am as long as I can travel as much as possible.

What is your favorite occupation?

Reading.

Who are your favorite writers?

Dickens, Pepys, Proust, Colette, Rebecca West, Jane Bowles, Barbara Pym, Alice Thomas Ellis, Penelope Lively, E. F. Benson, E. Nesbit, Dorothy Sayers.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Every humanitarian-aid worker on the face of this earth.

What is it that you most dislike?

False hope. I like to work from reality.

How would you like to die?

I wish Jay and I would live to a great age and go within an hour of each other.

What is your motto?

“Face the fact till it divides you through the heart and marrow like a sword.”

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