The process of composition, messing around with paragraphs and trying to make really good prose, is hardwired into my personality.

I have worked really hard to defy categorization, to break down a taxonomy whenever it comes my way.

Impotence, fetishism, bisexuality, and bondage are all facts of life, and our fiction should reflect that.

The past was so past it hurt.

I think literature is best when it's voicing what we would prefer not to talk about.

I am in Boston right now, in fact, to do work at the New England Historical Genealogical Library, where I'm trying to finish up tracing my lineage back to the seventeenth century.

I suppose I should say that I treasure blasphemy, as a faith of the highest order.

Genre is a bookstore problem, not a literary problem.

I judged about a zillion awards this year so Ive been reading a lot of books that just came out.

It's also true, however, that having conquered the regional writer ghetto, I am now intent on conquering the nationalist writer ghetto and moving out into the world more.

I'm trying to read more dead people because I keep having to read stuff for juries and so forth.

Nice sweater Bob, does it come in mens?

The first rule of democracy is to distrust all leaders who begin to believe their own publicity.

Realize that from the start, every activity that comprises the journey has value and the ability to teach you something.

I like going into nature and that's where I'm happiest.

That's like asking a cobbler if he's made too many pairs of shoes.

And would'st thou evil for his good repay?

An instant realization sees endless time. Endless time is as one moment. When one comprehends the endless moment He realizes the person who is seeing it.

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year everybody.

It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future".

One face is given to us by god. The other,we make ourselves