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There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.

And all around is the desert; a corner of the mournful kingdom of sand.

But The Same Sea is set precisely in this Israel, which never makes it to the news headlines anywhere. It is a novel about everyday people far removed from fundamentalism, fanaticism nationalism, or militancy of any sort.

I like the idea of a place that is dealing with painful, messy, frightening, and very human events that is also so beautiful and ethereal.

I've accompanied several dying people on their travels, and the desert seems to be a favored destination. It is very hot and dry and lyrical in its own way.

A life without a lonely place, that is, without a quiet center, becomes destructive.

As we all know, many people remain buried under tons of rubble and debris, waiting to be rescued. When we think of their suffering, we feel deeply and profoundly that we should be there, in Haiti, with them, trying our best to prevent death.

My favorite spot is the Maldives. Since I travel so much for work, I like to go to places that are very secluded and quiet.