I still consider it a summer job, though. So, I try to maintain that summer job as long as I can. But it's exciting to be able to have the opportunity to do things I always dreamed of as a kid.

Instinct taught me 20 years ago to pace a song or a concert performance. That translates into pacing a story, pleasing a reading audience.

Places I've lived since then had to have some kind of uniqueness and character about them. And logically Key West, and then Down Island. So, all of that stuff sort of had it's roots in New Orleans and went crazy.

And I wound up in New Orleans for all those years and it was a great place, really a catalyst creatively.

I like a family guy. He must be fun, must like to go out, and has to respect his mom... my family is very important, so it should be likewise for him.

My grandfather created a big family in Italy. He protected the family; he helped them in hospitals and stuff like that.

My family is very international.

Thanks to having my dad travel with me, I don't feel quite cut off from my family.