“ There's sometimes a weird benefit to having an alcoholic, violent father. He really motivated me in that I never wanted to be anything like him. ”

“ Like all of us in this storm between birth and death, I can wreak no great changes on the world, only small changes for the better, I hope, in the lives of those I love. ”

“ Nothing gives us courage more readily than the desire to avoid looking like a damn fool. ”

“ I never discuss a novel while I'm writing it, for fear that talking about it will diminish my desire to write it. ”

“ I believe that I was a dog in a past life. That's the only thing that would explain why I like to snack on Purina Dog Chow. ”

“ I like to deal with EVERY aspect of our condition, and that means terror and humor in equal mix. Some books have more room for humor than others. ”

“ I try not to spend too much time on partisan politics. Life's too short for that. I don't really believe that there have been many human problems solved by politics. ”

“ I really believe that everyone has a talent, ability, or skill that he can mine to support himself and to succeed in life. ”

“ Somebody asked me about the current choice we're being given in the presidential election. I said, Well, it's like two of the scariest movies I can imagine. ”