I don't believe in fate, as in, which I - as a Catholic, I think, sort of predestination. But I certainly believe in chance.

Some people need a huge amount of attention, and they are worthy of that attention, and they're still exhausting.

I always feel it is a shortcoming of mine as a reader and as a writer that I frankly need to like somebody.

Updike and Bellow and Roth were my three favorite writers when I was young and throughout my life.

If what we want to do is promote reading and writing and publishing and making sure this is a business that keeps going - because it is a business! It's not just an art - then we have to take responsibility. I get sort of crazy and frothy when I think about this. It really matters.

We are taught to be suspicious, especially of anyone who might not look like us or share our beliefs.

I think of Nashville as a very natural place. We're easy going, we are ourselves. There isn't a lot of preening or trying to impress. So it's an easy place to just be and that is a good state from which to write.