Quotes from Kevin Kwan

I really don't keep an outline; I don't organize in any way. I just write.

I go to Shenzhen, China, and am taken to a vast luxury spa with a hundred leather recliners and a hundred accompanying plasma screen televisions bolted to the ceiling.

I was born on the island of Singapore, and I grew up there until I was 11 years old, when I was forcibly removed by my dad and planted into suburban Houston. I was in shock for the first year and then began to really love it - but didn't love it quite enough to stay.

I've always been drawn to the Edwardian period in England. To me, it seems like such a fascinating time, when the British Empire was at the height of its powers and the strict mores of the Victorian age were dissipating into the decadence of King Edward's reign.

Hollywood is a whole other level of crazy. I've never met so many assistants who have assistants. It's a stratified society on its own.

The idea of Asian ascendancy has entered public culture.

I live in New York, but I still get the village gossip. My apartment is a crash pad for so many Singaporean cousins and friends.

My golden dream was to move to New York and live in the Village and become that cool rebel beatnik Jack Kerouac.

My father came from old money. There was less of an expectation for the children to earn a living.