David Grann

Because many squid have brain nerve fibres that are hundreds of times thicker than those of humans, neuroscientists have long used them for research. These nerve fibres have led to so many breakthroughs in the study of neurons that many scientists joke that the squid should receive a Nobel Prize. ”

Like many people, I kicked around, struggled to become a writer, finally got my first full-time job around 27, 28, at 'The Hill' newspaper. They hired me as a copy editor, which was kind of funny because I'm semi-blind because I have an eye disorder. ”

It's funny: I don't know if she babysat, but I spent time with Judy Blume when I was little. ”

The outlaw, in the American imagination, is a subject of romance - a 'good' bad man, he is typically a master of escape, a crack shot, a ladies' man. ”

I'm sure every author has their own process. ”

I don't normally do pure historical work. ”

I don't hunt, I don't camp, and I get lost on my subway to work here in Times Square! ”

Because I read so much nonfiction for work, I enjoy fiction most, especially detective novels and mysteries that keep me awake at night. ”

When I work on stories, I tend to be pretty obsessive. ”

When I work on stories, I tend to lose sight of everything else. I forget to pay bills or to shave. I don't change my clothes as often as I should. ”