Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something. Edward P. Jones ancientcompulsionkernel Change image and share on social
In the summer of 1964, my sister and I went to South Ballston, Virginia, to stay with my aunt and her kids. They passed the civil rights bill that summer; my cousins were so happy because now they could swim in the pool. Edward P. Jones auntballstonbill share on social
I don't want to own something that you can't take into your apartment at night. Edward P. Jones apartmentnight Change image and share on social
From my apartment in Arlington, I could see Washington. It was always nice to be near home. Edward P. Jones apartmentarlingtonhome Change image and share on social
Something happened during the 1980s - perhaps the political climate of that time - that caused me to ask how a people would become part of a system that oppresses their own people. Edward P. Jones 1980scauseclimate Change image and share on social
You don't go to the library and walk along and pick out a topic. You are riding the bus, or shopping at Safeway, and all of a sudden the idea comes to you. Edward P. Jones busidealibrary Change image and share on social
My mother relied on her memory to do things because she couldn't read. Part of that was not really knowing numbers. Edward P. Jones knowmemorymother Change image and share on social
I've never been comfortable with the idea of using family and friends in stories. Which is why it takes me longer than something else. Because you make them up out of nothing. Doing that is harder. Edward P. Jones comfortablefamilyfriend Change image and share on social
I don't believe that there is any particular book that influenced any 'career' I might have. Edward P. Jones bookcareerinfluence Change image and share on social
It just so happens that I was born and raised in Washington. Had I been born in Chicago or San Antonio, the streets and places would have figured into whatever I wrote. Just so happens that it's Washington, D.C. Edward P. Jones antoniobearchicago share on social