As a professional journalist, I've been interviewing people for almost thirty years. And the one thing I've learned from all those interviews is that I am always going to be surprised.

I think even a hero is someone who has sort of the flaw or imperfection of character. I remember Alice Walker saying that once - she'd written a novel about a civil rights hero, and it was someone who had this flaw, this central flaw.

I spent my whole life as a writer talking to just the average guy in Los Angeles and Latin America, talking to working people.

The influence of cinema on all contemporary writers is undeniable. Because film is such a powerful and popular art form, we prose writers think cinematically.

The show changed my life in so many remarkable ways. Now in my 82nd year, I have been blessed with a wonderful 67-year career with 'Hee Haw' as the icing on the cake.

For the first ten years of my career, I felt suffocated. People constantly stood over me while I tried to create. And in 2009, I hit rock bottom. I couldn't find myself because I was looking to be defined by the music industry or by being number one on the Billboard charts.

My goal and my career is definitely not to be famous. That's a really horrible goal, just to be famous for the sake of having fame.

I had to walk away from America, and say goodbye to the biggest part of my career, because I knew otherwise my demons would get the better of me.