Read. Read anything. Read the things they say are good for you, and the things they claim are junk. You'll find what you need to find. Just read.

The best thing about doing a signing tour is that numbers become faces. I got to sign books for six or seven thousand people, all of whom were dreadfully nice. Everything else, the interviews, the hotels, the plane travel, the best-seller lists, even the sushi, gets old awfully fast. Well, maybe not the sushi.

Have you ever had one of those days when something just seems to be trying to tell you somebody?

I always figure there are novels and short stories, and in those, I'm God. No one tells me what to do. I don't have to lose a page, or cut anything, it's just mine. Then there are other things where you're up against realities.

They also held that the way to salvation was to give way to lust and temptation in all things. And no greater percentage of them turned up here than of any other religion. Amusing, isn't it?

I watch my heart disappearing into her rosebud mouth. My Valentine's jest somehow seems less funny.

Nothing I did where the only reason for doing it was the money was ever worth it, except as bitter experience.