Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people.

You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.

I haven't had trouble with writer's block. I think it's because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching, cliched writing, outright flailing around. Writing that doesn't have a good voice or any voice. But then there will be good moments.

The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad' is 'Look at Me.' It has the futuristic element - although, freakishly, almost every aspect I invented has come to pass in some way, including the terrorist who fantasies about blowing up the World Trade Centre. That was extremely uncomfortable. The book came out on the week of 9/11.

We had the tempo where we wanted it and we were in the 1-and-1 already, and then we turn it over and miss some shots that we shouldn't have taken. I think we lost a lot of our aggressiveness at the offensive and defensive ends after that.

If these groups are knowingly assisting illegal immigrants, they may feel morally compelled to provide that assistance, but they certainly ought to be held legally accountable for violating the law.