I led the way toward the crowd, trying to look casual, like, Fly? Me? Nah.

Please, I begged silently, please do not let my last moments on earth be me crammed into a tiny boat in the dark, surrounded by mechanical singing pirates.

My style is colloquial storytelling. It's the way we tell stories to one another - it's not writerly, it's not overdone.

Am I tough? Am I strong? Am I hard-core? Absolutely. Did I whimper with pathetic delight when I sank my teeth into my hot fried-chicken sandwich? You betcha.

i play a mean harmonica

I'm very emotional. I do feel stuff, for better or worse.

Let's face it: Most of us don't realize it, but we are failing our kids as reading role models. The best role models are in the home: brothers, fathers, grandfathers; mothers, sisters, grandmothers. Moms and dads, it's important that your kids see you reading. Not just books - reading the newspaper is good, too.