Aerosmith-one of the 10 best bands today? Yeah definitely.

Everyone's got their problems and their demons, but when we get onstage and play as five, that really all goes away, and that's really all I look at.

I do that a lot of authors still do not do is allow people to write directly to me. I get about 50 fan letters a day, and I answer every single one of them myself. It takes a lot of time and sometimes it's a pain in the neck and I answer the same questions over and over. But the truth is these people come to my readings clutching these letters saying, "You wrote me back. I can't believe you wrote me back", and I think it really means a lot for them to know that the author values them just as much as they value the author.

It doesn't feel good when you're put down, and especially for no uncertain reason.

The fact that I'm still constantly smiling is a remarkable thing, but I love getting out on the road, meeting my fans. I love hearing them say wonderful things and I love being able to thank them in person for reading me.

Why not share with the world the way it is and tell them my feelings about my cat, and how I played with my kids, and how addicted to Christmas time I am, and the smell of pine needles and hearing my kids laugh.

It's as clear as the balls on a tall dog.