Sometimes I would get frustrated, I'd think, "You know, this is a good book, how come no one is paying attention to it?" So it's nice to have some recognition.

It makes me think about how you hear these young people say, "I see you, man." Or even if you go and watch some basketball game over the summer and the announcer goes, "I see you," and you see that player smile. You know what I mean? That thing of just being recognized, especially when you do a little subtle thing. I don't know.

Maybe I'm just sensitive to that person who's on the outside.

People are very comfortable when race relations get looked at retrospectively. Slavery, the civil rights movement, etc.

I've also never written anything really in LA.

If New York is the City That Never Sleeps, then Los Angeles is the City That's Always Passed Out on the Couch.

I've written a little bit in Germany.