The romantic idea is that everybody around a writer must suffer for his talent. I think a writer is a citizen of humanity, part of his nation, part of his family. He may have to make some compromises.

People who light up like Roman candles come down in the dark very quickly.

My attitudes have changed, but somebody would have to read all my books to find out how they have

I reach my readers regardless of what the critics have written

You have to expect the raps when you have achieved popularity as a writer

I'm not as hopeful as I was when I was young

I never drink while I'm working, but after a few glasses I get ideas that would never have occurred to me dead sober.