My general writing preface is to write an outline and then ignore about half of it, both on a micro level with the individual book, and on a macro level with the series as a whole, and that's pretty much what's happened.

I'm not very good at the accordion. If I played guitar, I wouldn't be on anyone's album. But because I play the accordion and no one else does, I end up doing strange things.

Grammar is the greatest joy in life, don't you find?

It is one of the peculiar truths of life that people often say things that they know full well are ridiculous.

Taking one’s chances is like taking a bath, because sometimes you end up feeling comfortable and warm, and sometimes there is something terrible lurking around that you cannot see until it is too late and you can do nothing else but scream and cling to a plastic duck.

There are few sights sadder than a ruined book.

Wherever it's good, whatever strange, faraway land, let's go there, let's stay in that place alone.