The hardest thing was learning to write. I was 13, and the only writing I had done was for Social Studies. It consisted of copying passages right out of the encyclopedia

I do believe in God. I think God has given so much power to people, and intelligence, and said, 'Well, you are on your own. Maybe I'm tired, I need a nap. You are mature. Why don't you look after yourselves?' And I think He's been sleeping too much.

What interests me is trying to catch the reflection of the human being on the page. I'm interested in how ordinary people live their lives

That's when I feel most alive, he told me once on an airplane, when I'm helping people.

I'm going to a commune in Vermont and will deal with no unit of time shorter than a season.

I've gotta keep life and computers separate, or else I'm gonna go mad.

among a coward's weapons, cynicism is the nastiest of all