It was strange to be naked in front of anybody. It was like that cold water out there in the bay: scary, you didn’t think you could stand it, but then you plunged in and pretty soon you got used to it. There was enough hiding in life. Sometimes you just wanted to show somebody your tits.

Read everything. If you haven't read everything, you'll never be able to write anything.

I have no doubt there are magician psychopaths, and magician serial killers. I doubt Brakebills admissions is very good at screening for those.

Don't take anyone's writing advice too seriously.

I guess I was raised in a household with a lot of reverence for the physical sanctity of books. You didn't destroy books.

The truth doesn't always make a good story, does it?

I recognize that on paper, you can't really tell that I'm a fan or a nerd.