Monthly Archives: July 2009

Ethan: “You should shave your beard, Daddy.” Me: “Really? If I shaved my beard you might not recognize me anymore. You’ll be: ‘Hey, who is that guy?’” Ethan: “Noooo. I’d recognize you.” Me: “Mommy might not.” Ethan: “You should shave … Continue reading →

I’m always interested in what sparks/starts a novel or a story. Here’s what Junot Diaz told an interviewer about how The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao began: “I was living in Mexico City… It was very late, and we … Continue reading →

Here’s how Colum McCann answered that itch-inducing question in an interview on the Powell’s Books Blog: “Thomas Berger has the most beautiful answer to this question. ‘Why do writers write? Because it isn’t there.’ Enough said. Or almost enough said. … Continue reading →