I always wanted to write something illustrated, and the Details strip finally gave me the opportunity.

I judged about a zillion awards this year so Ive been reading a lot of books that just came out.

I think literature is best when it's voicing what we would prefer not to talk about.

I'm not the guy to ask about the most up to date stuff.

Updike worked this way, and I just kinda borrowed it from him. So the memoir will be relief from novel writing for a moment.

In general, each form is a relief from the other forms. I can't write a novel after a novel. I just use up all the material each time, and I need to rest.

The Great Recession is not imaginary, and the effects loom large. There was an article in the NYT about the galloping death rate among white men in middle age. Higher than among any other demographic, etc. Mostly death by drugs, alcohol, or suicide. Many of them rural. My feeling is that it's many people who haven't been able to get back into the work force. Reg Morse is an example of the problem.