“Remember that you own what happened to you. If your childhood was less than ideal, you may have been raised thinking that if you told the truth about what really went on in your family, a long bony white finger would emerge from a cloud and point to you, while a chilling voice thundered, "We *told* you not to tell." But that was then. Just put down on paper everything you can remember now about your parents and siblings and relatives and neighbors, and we will deal with libel later on.”

American novelist and nonfiction writer

Anne Lamott is an American novelist and nonfiction writer. She is known for work that blends fiction with personal and reflective nonfiction, and for a voice that is direct, candid, and observant. Her writing often draws on everyday life, faith, family, addiction, recovery, and the struggles and small consolations of ordinary experience. She has built a large body of quoted material on the site, reflecting the wide reach of her public voice and the clarity of her style.