There's a tradition in American fiction that is deadly serious and earnest - like the Steinbeckian social novel.

Only the nerds will save the earth.

I actually own a copy of my own book; that's how dedicated I am as an author.

You are only pretentious if you are not sincere.

Lies are just another kind of storytelling, but with the very distinct and enlivening motive of desperation. Since writers are by nature desperate creatures, they usually do a pretty good (or pretty awful, but always interesting) job of lying.

I am someone who values truth - actual truth as opposed to 'truthiness.'

I have no skills. I mean, I can make jokes, I'm pretty good at talking to people on the Judge John Hodgman podcast. I can figure out what makes a pretty good story, and I can make eggs really well.