My heroes are people like Philip Levine, who is simply like a god to me, as a writer. And he is a very good man, too.

Good art is a form of prayer. It's a way to say what is not sayable.

I have a wonderful editor who believes in fiction and poetry. She herself is a novelist and poet.

The best defense is a good story.

People do not read, by and large. They watch television.

If there is some blood on the pages then you have some readership.

I always had good students.