Goodreads asked Ariella Cohen:

How do you get inspired to write?

Ariella Cohen Inspiration has never been a problem; I always wanted to be a writer. My mom was a single parent (and a writer) and she worked around the clock. From the time my sister and I could reach the sink, we did the dishes. Reach the stove, we cooked. You get the picture. On my 16th birthday I went down to the town hall for my work permit and worked at different jobs every hour legally permitted from then on. Don't misunderstand me - no boohoo here. I just did my part, but I pushed thoughts of art to the back of my mind, convinced I had to train for a 'real' job so I wouldn't be in my mom's position. So I went to Columbia Univ. and then on to law school, all the while writing bit and pieces, but never a novel. I shared my writing from time to time and the wonderful Elie Wiesel offered encouragement. As much as I kept his note close, it took years for my first novels to make it to the page. SO inspiration wasn't the problem, I just took a very long road to actually getting the thing done!

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