An author knows his landscape best; he can stand around, smell the wind, get a feel for his place.

I always try to make the setting fit the story I have in mind.

I know what I write about seems exotic to a lot of people, but not for me. I pulled up to an old trading post and saw a few elderly Navajos sitting on a bench. I felt right at home.

IF you are not for yourself, who will be for you? If you are only for yourself, what are you? If not now, when?

I am 82 years old. I imagine that I will keep on writing as long as anyone wants to keep reading.

The essays in The Great Taos Bank Robbery were my project to win a Master of Arts degree in English when I quit being a newspaper editor and went back to college.

An author knows his landscape best; he can stand around, smell the wind, get a feel for his place.