I think it would be a shame for any writer to let their publishers in any way corral them into a single genre.

When people write to me with stories, they are never ones that work for me. There's something mysterious about which ones catch you.

He [Ma's Tooth] was part of her a minute ago but now he's not. Just a thing.

What's crucial about being an executive producer is that you stay in the loop, information-wise. They have to share all their major decisions with you.

Some writers can produce marvelous plots without planning it out, but I can't. In particular I need to know the structure of a novel: what's going to happen in each chapter and each scene.

I am clumsy, a late and nervous driver, and despise all sports except a little gentle dancing or yoga.

This is a bad story.” “Sorry. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.” “No, you should,” I say. “But—” “I don’t want there to be bad stories and me not know them.