Larry Brown:

I've seen that distant dream come true, a book with my name on it.  It hasn't been easy and I doubt if it ever will be.  I don't think it was meant to be easy.  I think that from the first it was meant to be hard for the few people who came along and wanted to write it, because the standards are so high and the rewards so great, in my case, making readers look into the hearts of the people I've chosen to write about.

Don't Quit Your Day Job, p. 57