Apologies aren't something you want to get in the habit of practicing in the mirror

When Rolling Stone handed me this crazy assignment to be in the studio with James Brown, they had the misapprehension that I'd written for them already just because I claimed my character had.

Nerds are just deep, and neurotic, fans. Needy fans. We're all nerds, on one subject or another.

Writing is a necessity and often a pleasure, but at the same time, it can be a great burden and a terrible struggle.

I prefer old books and find them more relevant. I dislike new books. It's like drinking wine that's not ready.

I try to write every day. I don't beat myself up about word counts, or how many hours are ticking by on the clock before I'm allowed to go and do something else. I just try to keep a hand in and work every single day, even if there are other demands or I'm on a book tour or have the flu or something, because then I keep my unconscious engaged with the book. Then I'm always a little bit writing, no matter what else I'm doing.

What's lucky about my career in general is that I stumbled into what every writer most wants. Not repeating myself and doing strange things has become my trademark.