I felt like a number of things in me as a writer just clicked.

I said shut up once already, with my mouth.

Fading light buttered the ridges until shadows licked them clean and they were lost to nightfall.

When I left Iowa, I definitely never wanted to stand in front of a group of academics again and see if they approved of me. I made up my mind to take my work to the actual reading public.

Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.

I always loved the verve and vivacity of pulp and I kind of merged it with my own interest in family stories.

The opening novel of the 'Bayou Trilogy' was the first one I finished.