But metaphors help eliminate what separates you and me.

In long-distance running the only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.

Writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.

But what seems like a reasonable distance to one person might feel too far to somebody else.

Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt when it's time for them to be hurt.

It's the same with menus and men and just about anything else: we think we're choosing things for ourselves, but in fact we may not be choosing anything. It could be that everthing's being decided in advance and we pretend we're making choices. Free will may be an illusion. I often think that.

Whenever I write a novel, music just sort of naturally slips in (much like cats do, I suppose).