It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealinggreat-great-grandfather!

I hope I remember everything," said Toni. "You won't," said Trapp. "That's how you learn. But after you make the same mistake one, or two, or five times, you'll eventually get it. And then you'll make new mistakes.

In a way, it made him sad. He couldn't help but think that a hundred times zero was still nothing.

It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealinggreat-great-grandfather!

Well, let me tell you something, Caveman. You are here on account of one person. If it wasn't for that person, you wouldn't be here digging holes in the hot sun. You know who that person is?" "My no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.

What amazes me is that most days feel useless. I don't seem to accomplish anything-just a few pages, most of which don't seem very good. Yet, when I put all those wasted days together, I somehow end up with a book of which I'm very proud.

Part of me becomes the characters I'm writing about. I think readers feel like they are there, the way I am, as a result.