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.

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

The hardest novel to write was Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.

There is no true life. Your true life is the one you end up with, whatever it may be. You just do the best you can with what you've got.

I never think about the actual process of writing. I suppose I have a superstition about examining it too closely.

I didn't really choose to write; I more or less fell into it.