We have lived too long. The great days are past.

A novel with a bad middle is a bad book. A bad ending is something I've just gotten in the habit of forgiving.

I read a lot of literary theory when I was in graduate school, especially about novels, and the best book I ever read about endings was Peter Brooks' 'Reading for the Plot. '

We have lived too long. The great days are past.

My book group has one rule: no books for adults. We read young adult fiction only.

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.

I'm happy to report that 'The New Press' is still in business to this day. But not thanks to me. I was a really bad publishing intern.