Bravest thing about people is how they go on loving mortal beings after finding out there's such a thing as dying.

Mostly it's lies, writing novels. You set out to tell an untrue story and you try to make it believable, even to yourself. Which calls for details; any good lie does.

I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance - much more than will ever appear in the novel. I think this is what lifts a book from that early calculated, artificial stage.

I love to think about chance - about how one little overheard word, one pebble in a shoe, can change the universe.

When you have children, you're obligated to live.

Something was wrong with a world where people came and went so easily.

He was wondering if there was some cryptic, cultish mark on his door that told all the crazy people he'd have trouble saying no.