[Robert] Aikman would write horror stories that weren't gore, they weren't slashers, and they weren't monster stories either. He called them ghost stories. The main thing about them was the vibe. It was really disquieting. He wanted to sketch the scene so that you could see it and know the characters and get a feel for the motion - and then ask yourself why and not get a final answer. Leave something that itches. I loved that!

I don't celebrate milestones and I don't do anniversary editions. It's not my style to reflect on accomplishments.

Everybody is in various states of needing to transcend something. I believe in mental health care, but when we call people "crazy," we exclude them from our circle.

I am at a place in my life where the more like a cave I can make my surroundings, the happier I am.

I enjoy hearing people who are good at their instruments and who've found a distinctive voice.

I make up stories that take place in real space with real people. If I could convert this into a technique for experimental novels, I might really be onto something.

It's an important moment as a reader, I think, when you can forget the question of whether you need to know what happened. Some people really want hard explanations. I'm the other way. I like mysteries. I don't want to frustrate people. I don't want people to feel like they got no answers, but I want to approach the mystery and sit with it.