Racism is ridiculous no matter where it's coming from.
When I go home, the last thing I want to do is read about the popular lore of vampires.
If a scene is longer than three pages, it better be for a good reason.
Obviously death is a theme I'm fascinated by.
A lot of times, the choice of the right song will save a scene. Or there will be a scene that's a little flat and you put in the right song and somehow it just comes alive.
Life is too mysterious to try to map it out. I've certainly lived long enough to know it will take you places you never thought it would take you - and some of those places are kind of wonderful.