I have to have a character worth caring about. I tend not to start writing books about people I dont have a lot of sympathy for because Im just going to be with them too long. – Richard Russo
Truth be told, Im not an easy man. I can be an entertaining one, though its been my experience that most people dont want to be entertained. They want to be comforted. – Richard Russo
I never worry about people not taking my work seriously as a result of the humor. In the end, the comics best trick is the illusion that comedy is effortless. That people imagine what hes doing is easy is an occupational hazard. – Richard Russo
I think that if people are instructed about anything, it should be about the nature of cruelty. And about why people behave so cruelly to each other. And what kind of satisfactions they derive from it. And why there is always a cost, and a price to be paid. – Richard Russo