I'm always reading. And I keep a whole list of stories, often unusual stories. There are a hundred some-odd ideas on that list.

I was really struck by all these people who had committed suicide. There are videos of all of them talking about why they're so happy to shed their human existence and exit their "vehicles" and I thought, "Why is that?"

Often my characters have some kind of idealism or grand belief that they're pursuing.

Sometimes, I'll read a news story and there will be one line about something else, and I'll find it interesting and look into it. That can often turn into an entire story on its own.

That's always disappointing when you find a good story and you realize the person has died, because then it's difficult to report.

I don't think that the people in my stories are lying to themselves. Well, some of them are - everybody is at some level. But there is something about how they all inhabit a narrative of their own making.

I don't know if any of the people perceive themselves as having been made fun of.