One of my goals is to allow readers to see my characters and the world they inhabit as vividly as possible.

Furthermore, even if ideas were gettable - say, stacked in a secluded cave like the Dead Sea scrolls - I wouldn't go there. An 'idea,' especially one adhered to from start to finish, can be disastrous for a compelling piece of fiction.

But nothing is solid and permanent. Our lives are raised on the shakiest foundations. You don't need to read history books to know that. You only have to know the history of your own life.

I love learning about different dialects and I own all sorts of regional and time-period slang dictionaries. I often browse through relevant ones while writing a story. I also read a lot of diaries and oral histories.

I wouldn't mind being a track and field coach.

Faulkner came from my region and taught me how you could write about a place.

You got one choice at the beginning but if you didn't choose right, things got narrow real quick.