When people come up to me and say, 'I read your book,' I'm thinking, 'How dare you! Who gave you a copy?'
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
People are always coming up to me with my books and saying, 'You write these things I think but I could never say.'
I've been around long enough now that people who don't get into the outrageousness, the over-the-top stuff, they know not to buy my books anymore.
Suzanne Collins, it was such a big thing for me to make the handshake with her and to say, 'You can trust me. I will not screw up your books. And I won't let them be diluted and softened. And I won't let them be exploited and made guilty of the sins that are being commented on in the books.' I take that really seriously.
I think some people wished I'd kept myself out of the book. But I kind of insist on it because I want the reader to share my engagement with the material, if you like, not pretend that I'm doing it completely intellectually.
I had a writing professor at Brandeis who told me I'd never make it - and when I sold my first novel a few years later, I sent him a copy!
When I'm done with a book, I always give it to someone with expertise in the topic and tell them to flag all of my stupid mistakes.
When I write a book, I write a book for myself; the reaction is up to the reader. It's not my business whether people like or dislike it.
I wrote a book, and I just love it when people come up to me and say, 'I read your book and loved it.'
I don't keep any copy of my books around... they would embarass me. When I finish writing my books, I kick them in the belly, and have done with them.
I'm always imposing my taste in books on others. I hope that people enjoy being surprised by a book they might not otherwise read - I enjoy the surprise myself when others do this to me.