Miriam asked Rumaan Alam:

How were you able to so deftly capture the secret thoughts of women?

Rumaan Alam I'm obviously delighted when readers who are women feel I've correctly depicted an experience that feels true to them and their own lives. But it bears pointing out that there are writers who write beautifully and imaginatively about life on Mars, about ancient history, about faraway lands, about animals. That's what writers do: they lie! I undoubtedly stole many of the details from observing the women in my life (There have been a lot! friends, colleagues, bosses; I've spent my life among women). But this book isn't based on anyone I know; it's all a lie. Fiction is just a fancy word for lie.

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