On her time between books: “I was teaching. I got divorced (in 2001). I was a single parent raising my kid alone. Look out in the world, find a woman who is teaching, is single, raising a kid and writing books and book reviews. When you find that person, I want to drink her blood.”
“Population: 485” has had such effect on readers that some, he admits reluctantly, have considered moving to a small town. “I always say, ‘Hang on there, Sparky. Small towns can be very difficult places.'”
Alexander McCall Smith: “I try to write about the decency of Africa. I fully realize the accusations of being a utopian novelist. I’m happy to be that.”
“There’s a huge difference between writing a good book and having good fortune. There are lots of good books published every year that don’t have one-tenth of the good fortune that I’ve had with (‘Empire Falls’).” Russo laughs. “I’ve written a few of them myself. So I know.”
“Email can be more obsessive more quickly and romance can progress faster,” Hamilton said. “But the basic elements are not that different from letters.”