I started writing serious books so late because I knew Id be accused of riding on my fathers coattails.

My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.

Since I cant write the greatest American novel, Im going to write the longest American novel.

The biggest impact my father had on my life was teaching the importance of literacy.

My father believed, like Pericles, that a mans genius could be easily judged by the number of unenlightened fools set in phalanx against his ideas.

Plot makes the character just as history makes the man.

I started writing serious books so late because I knew Id be accused of riding on my fathers coattails.