So I am a product of the Internet, and to some degree a product of this sensibility of constant cultural reference.

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

Once you're out in a place where there's one sheriff for the county, people have to learn how to get along with each other and that means going to the dump illegally and dumping your garbage and hoping the guys don't call you on it and being terrified of this to your core until you realize after many years that the guys at the dump don't really care where your garbage is coming from.

What I collect? Interesting jobs. Always to my thrill and excitement, but ultimately to my exhaustion, I collect interesting jobs. If an interesting job comes along, I take it; that's why I do so many things. I'm lucky to be able to.

When I listen to music - I don't particularly do it for fun all that much. It's not a big part of my life, and I'm not really on top of what's happening in the world of music in the way I was when I was a teenager.

My memories of literary agenting are of a very happy time and there are surprising reminders of it coming back now.

I think in American culture, we put value on economic success but tell people you don't have to be economically successful to be happy.