I'm not a fearful person, but I'm a pretty pessimistic person. So some of my best times are waiting, anticipating. That's the way it always has been with me, whether anticipating a ball game, anticipating a relationship.

I get off on anticipating and waiting much more than I get off on the actual event.

If Mumia Abu-Jamal has nothing important to say, why are so many powerful people trying to shut him up?

That split is inside all Americans. There are contradictions inside all of us about color and race. We've learned to cover them up and live with them and pretend that deep cleavage is not there. We all bear that illness.

I believe - what did Faulkner say? "The past is not even past."

If I had only a negative side of things to present, I think I would have much less of a drive to do it. Because what would be the point?

Remember that a book is many drafts - mine certainly are. It's improvisation. It's as much jazz and the way we talk and the way I heard people preach coming up as it is writing.