The word 'novel' carries, for me, a weight as ominous, all-consuming and unforgiving as any Job encountered.

Letter scrambling and trouble reading is just a small part of dyslexia. It is also an auditory processing problem.

I didn't learn how to read until I was at the end of fifth grade and 11 years old and held back.

I found many ways around my dyslexia, but I still have trouble transforming words into sounds. I have to memorize and rehearse before reading anything aloud to avoid embarrassing myself by mispronouncing words.

As for what's the most challenging aspect of teaching, it's convincing younger writers of the importance of reading widely and passionately.

I didn't go to high school, and I didn't go to grade school either. Education, I think, is for refinement and is probably a liability.

There are some things that I like, like education, wine, and I'd like to be a good cook, although I'm a pretty good eater now.

A teacher asked me if I'd audition for a play, and I ended up playing the pirate Red Dog in a production of 'Treasure Island.' And that's where it started, and I really felt part of something special, but I still didn't think about it as something I wanted to do. I was just having fun.