Actually, I've taught creative writing in Turkey, at an English language university, where the students were native Turkish speakers, but they were writing their essays in English, and they were very interesting - even the sense of structure, the conventions of writing, the different styles of writing.

From an early age, my favorite thing to read was novels. For years, when I was writing only nonfiction, still I was reading almost exclusively novels. It's weird to be producing something that you don't consume. It feels really alienating.

The first thing I tried to write was a novel, when I took that time off in grad school. Then I didn't finish it. I went back to school, and then I started writing nonfiction kind of by accident.

One of the most painful parts of a breakup is having the feeling that your life is a story, and then the other person leaves and takes the story with them. And you're left there without it. You're left in this version of life that's basically a succession of events and interactions that don't seem to be going anywhere.

I do think of 'The Idiot,' in a way, as a self-standing book about a certain struggle to make meaning, the struggle for a girl to find meaning outside of the romance plot.

In reality, victims of human trafficking are often left voiceless and completely unseen by society.

Thank you to our farmers for all you do to keep food on our tables.

Standing beside each one of our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines is a loving, supportive, and dedicated family whose sacrifice is a true service to our great nation.

We must continue to ensure that the legacy of the Greatest Generation is preserved and protected so that all Americans can work to embody the ideals and values of those that came before them.

There is still much work to be done to help our students secure good-paying jobs and achieve their ultimate goals, and in Congress, I'll continue to support Career and Technical Education programs.

Zebra mussels like to hitch a ride on boats when they're transferred from one body of water to another. It's important to make sure to thoroughly clean your boat each time it leaves the water to ensure these invasive mussels are removed and that you are not spreading them to your next location.

Nothing replaces hard work.

Our most important job in Congress is to provide for our national defense, and therefore, every year, Congress allocates funds and determines defense priorities in a bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

Standing beside each brave servicemember is a spouse with their own unique professional dreams and career goals that shouldn't be stifled by the constant transitions that our military families are subjected to.

Technology is the foundation of the empowerment economy.

When our natural habitats become overrun by species that are not native to these areas, they can damage the environment, pose health risks, and even hurt our local economy.

Military families are resilient through countless relocations, leaving friends, networks and transitioning to new schools and new jobs while fitting in to new communities.

I am committed to helping our farmers in any way that I can.

As a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, I'm committed to finding consensus on legislation to address our environmental and energy challenges.

I was rowing the boat alone against a tide, running against an incumbent in 2013.

I think the more women we have in leadership positions, the more women will see examples, can see themselves in those roles.

President Obama has piled on more taxes, more regulations, more debt for future generations and higher health care costs - hurting our Main Street economy.

When I travel throughout the district speaking with families and educators, I frequently hear of concerns with our K-12 education system.

It is imperative that Congress provides adequately funded and stable budgets which allow us to support Afghan personnel and ensure that Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorists again.

One of my key issues is economic empowerment.

Things won't change unless we have new types of candidates.

Luck favors the brave.

I first decided to run for Congress when I was 29 - and became a Representative at the age of 30.

In a 21st-century economy, it is critical that we equip our nation's children with the tools they need to compete in a global marketplace.

I'm an avid Instagram user, and I do it myself.

A traditional college education works for many students, but for others, this path isn't the best choice.

People told me several times during my first campaign to hide my youth and the fact that I was a nontraditional candidate - a 29-year-old woman. Instead of taking that bad advice, I really leaned in to who I was and wrapped my arms around the fact that I was young and female and that we needed representation for multiple generations in Congress.

I've been really humbled by other women who've reached out to me across the country. Not just women who are running for Congress and federal office, but elementary school students running for student council or high school students who are their class presidents.

Increased access to broadband expands our ability to do commerce and will help bring our farmers' operations into the 21st century.

The H-2A guest visa program has been prone to excessive delays and is too rigid to fit the changing needs of farmers and their employees.

For too long, the producers of non-dairy beverages, such as almond and soy products, have unfairly benefited from the ability to label their products as milk.

As the proud home of Fort Drum and the Navy Nuclear Site at Kesselring, our district is home to countless military spouses who make enormous sacrifices on behalf of our nation.

Military spouses serve, too, and it's critical we work together to ensure our country's military spouses have the jobs they need and deserve.

The challenges military families face from frequent relocations and deployments are themselves patches of service, and that's why supporting our military families is one of my top priorities in Congress.

Our district is home to the Adirondacks, and we know firsthand that clean energy development and environmental protection are critical to our economy.

In Congress, I've advocated for an all-of-the-above energy policy that identifies and promotes alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and hydropower.

No clean energy development is complete without extensive environmental protections, and I've been proud to work in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues in Congress to protect our most precious natural resources.

Whether you're a high school student, attend traditional college, or take night classes while working full-time, it is imperative that you are given the tools necessary to become competitive in the workforce.

Children especially deserve our support after they are rescued from those who have victimized them.

As the first member of my immediate family to graduate from college, making higher education more affordable and accessible is a top priority of mine.

As a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and the Co-Chair of the Invasive Species Caucus, I'll continue to be an independent voice for our district.

We must keep the promises and commitments we've made to our military veterans by ensuring needed services and care are always available and delivered in a timely fashion.

I'm honored to sit on the House Intelligence Committee and am proud to chair the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

We ask our brave men and women in uniform to risk everything to protect us.

Serving our district and military families is a tremendous honor, and as our work continues in Congress, I will continue fighting for a strong national defense.