“I always wanted to be an author. I thought it was the coolest job. As a child of immigrant parents, it wasn't ever something that they promoted. They always wanted me to do something practical.”

Source: No Exit

Quoted by Bethanne Patrick for AOL Books in 2006.
Context: For me the most important thing was always that you have something in mind that you want to do, that you enjoy doing, because a lot of people have a job, but they're not happy. I think you have to think about what it is you really want to do in life and pursue that, and do it with fun; have a smile on your face, because then you're happy. You're happy and you can be open, you can be nice with people, and you have a different appearance and feeling of life than when you are in a job you hate. So for me that was always the most important thing.

On moving to Hollywood at 14, after having earned her high school equivalency diploma, as quoted in "Genius at Work" in People magazine, Vol. 43 No. 9 (6 March 1995)

"Questions and Answers for the Governor" https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/governorlocke/kids/questions.htm

On becoming her own person as a professional musician. <br class="br"> Malvern Gaz http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1256525759902277&amp;url=www.geocities.com/thecoolchip03/malverngaz.htm article, unidentified issue

Interview for Allure magazine, February 2008