I thought about how everyone always seemed slightly uncomfortable when discussing their fathers in front of me. They always seemed worried I'd be reminded of my fatherlessness, as if I could somehow forget.

Something in his voice reminded me that his mom was dead, and I thought about how everyone always seemed slightly uncomfortable when discussing their fathers in front of me. They always seemed worried I’d be reminded of my fatherlessness, as if I could somehow forget.

My father died suddenly, but also across the years. He was still dying, really—which meant I guess that he was still living, too.

The way people talked about fathers could almost make you glad not to have one.

My father died suddenly, but also across the years. He was still dying, really- which meant I guess that he was still living, too.

Becoming a father made me much more interested in the parent character in my novels. I've never found parents that interesting.