Matt Cooper

Do you base them on people you know?

When you are writing as well, are you writing very much with the story in mind or the characters?

So the stories serve the characters, isn't it?

Yeah, but it's more than just character formation and character studies because there's all these little twists.

You do like telling a story.

And then what about bringing in modern day society and politics?

Because this is a book that does address isolation during COVID as well as isolation that people might have in their lives, even when they're surrounded by others.

And it also brings in a little bit of the stresses caused in modern day America.

By the political situation, not feeling the ability perhaps to be able to talk with other people, because you might, to your surprise, discover you have a different political point of view.

And is that Elizabeth Strout's world coming into the novel?

Is this a sign of your politics and your beliefs?

But you wanted to have a kick at that, did you?

And tell us, The Things We Never Say, the Artie Dam book, where do you go from here?

Are you going to continue writing very much in contemporary America because there is so much going on, which is changing, and maybe from our eyes from outside, is actually making America look a less...

Oh, it's so sad.

Elizabeth Strout, I loved The Things We Never Say.

I think it's going to go down as one of the best novels of the year.

It's been lovely meeting you.

And so it's finally here.

It's the start of the World Cup 2026.