Mark Leyner

The interesting thing about something in the back of your mind is that it can travel pretty far back in your mind.

As far as what I do, my value as a writer is certainly not to try to recapitulate a 19th century form. Certain styles of narrative don't conform to my style of experiencing the world.

'Et Tu, Babe' was born out of my absolute certainty that a writer's life was solitary and insular, and I was happy with that. I love reading and writing; it's my whole life.

When you try to unravel something you've written, you belittle it in a way. It was created as a mystery.

Although my dad's a writer, we grew up in a telly-watching household. I never found him disparaging about television.

A kid is something precious, and you want to protect it and keep it fun. I'm not a dad, but I've seen people and how they behave with their kids.