I asked a French critic a couple of years ago why my books did so well in France. He said it was because in my novels people both act and think. I got a kick out of that.
We are all naturally xenophobic.
I think the trouble with artists or chefs who whine about criticism is that if you love the good reviews, you have to at least read the bad ones.
Your kids inevitably want to move where they had their vacations when they were younger.
Because most writers have totally unrealistic concepts of how publishing works.
After a lifetime of world travel I've been fascinated that those in the third world don't have the same perception of reality that we do.
