Writing is the only thing I've ever done with persistence, except for being married.

In order to write novels for a living - it's not pathological, but I do think and worry and brood and fidget about stuff that I'm working on.

I grew up in Mississippi being told it was a great place, but not feeling that. When I finally began reading seriously, literature showed me something about where I was from which was worthwhile.

I don't want to be taken to Bhutan and smell the flowers. I want to be told something I couldn't have been told any other way.

I've been mainly a happy boy in my life. I married the right girl and we did what we wanted to do.

I didn't read a serious book until I was 19.

I don't have a very logical and orderly mind.