We are a naturally hierarchical species.

If vampires were a separate species, and they were into genetic engineering, what would they engineer for?

Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself.

The major tragedies in life, there's just no compensation. But the minor ones you can always write about. It's my way of dealing, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than psychiatrists. The story, you see, will get you through.

You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it.
That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.

As a kind of castaway myself, I was happy to escape into the fictional world of someone else's trouble.