IN CONVERSATION . . .

Yes, but it's such a small book. It's heavy paper, big margins.

But it's very deep, very still and pure. Assertive yet playful. You've pared back your style to its essence.

All my books started out as extravagant and ended up pure and plain. This one was over 1,200 pages at one point, and I just pared it back -- boy did I -- by the syllable. I lost some of my best metaphors, but they had to go. It's a little silly to finally learn how to write at this age. But I long ago realized I was secretly sincere. This one was as pure as I could make it.

There's almost no dialogue.

That's because I can't do dialogue. So I [solved that] by making Lou [the wife] a non-talker, known for her silences.

It's both pared down and lush.

Don't say lush, it hurts my feelings. It's mean and lean.

There IS toughness there. It's generous without being sentimental.

Absolutely! It's beautiful without being lyrical. It's much better than anything I've ever written.

What pleases you?

Well, for one thing the story itself is so whiz-bang I wanted to do it justice. And for another I haven't read it over so I can imagine it's terrific.

The jacket copy calls you "a gregarious recluse." Does that make you an introvert or an extrovert?