I spent many years of my life as an economist and demographer. I was finally distracted by writing my novels and poetry. I'm enormously happy that was the case. I feel that with writing I have found my metier.

I have a reputation for being hermitlike. I'm not. I'm just obsessed with my work.

Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?

My eyes close. I am here and not here. A waking nap? A flight to the end of the galaxy and perhaps a couple of billion light-years beyond?

Think of many things. Never place your happiness in one person's power. Be just to yourself.

I just love music - by no stretch of the imagination am I professionally competent.

Revision has its own peculiar pleasures and its own peculiar frustrations. The ground rules are already established; the characters already exist. You don't have to bring the characters to life, but you do have to make them more convincing.