I'd never had money growing up, and it's never been that important to me, except maybe to take our kids on a nice vacation or something like that.

Man plans. God laughs.

Kids don’t do what their parents say-they do what they see their parents do. So who was to blame here?

Kate Atkinson is an absolute must-read. I love everything she writes.

I remember one time I heard this English professor asking the class what the world's scariest noise is. Is it a man crying out in pain? A woman's scream of terror? A gunshot? A baby crying? And the professor shakes his head and says, 'No, the scariest noise is, you're all alone in your dark house, you know you're all alone, you know that there is no chance anyone else is home or within miles—and then, suddenly, from upstairs, you hear the toilet flush.

I am very lucky that I get to tell stories for a living. I love being able to grab people's attention, to keep them turning the pages, to make them stay awake all night. I want to stir the pulse, yes, but also to stir the heart. I hope 'The Woods' does that.

So basically your plan is to flail about helplessly.