I asked the man on the phone from the National Endowment for the Arts what this fellowship entailed, and he said, 'Well, first there's $10,000.' I asked him, 'Can I pay it in installments?'

Over the last 40 years the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities have strengthened our democracy by supporting our nation's ideals, institutions and emerging talents,

My dad was a telegraph operator for the Cotton Belt Railroad. He worked seven nights a week from 4 until midnight, no vacation.

What a thrill it is to have my writing recognized by an institution as admirable and vital as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Well, I asked him who would start the war first.

This funding from the National Endowment for the Arts has been like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.