Susan Stamberg

I don't like that.

So we had a terrific interchange about it because I went in with that viewpoint.

You don't need to be polite in front of these microphones.

You should trust your responses and your natural reactions and your own intelligence and figure, why am I reacting that way?

Well, if I am, I'm not alone.

I'm like a whole lot of other people here.

So I'll make that a talking point.

Let me work with that.

Let me use that.

And writers, gee, boy, they appreciate it.

Someone taking them so seriously that they formed an opinion about the work.

What?

Nothing's more flattering.

Oh, sure, they've got egos.

Wee, how do you like that?

Because now I wrote a book, I can say I'm a writer too.

And you want to please people and have them think that what you've done is terrific.

But also it's wonderful that someone else has taken the time to think so hard about something you've worked so hard at.

And that's exciting to start to talk about and to explain yourself.

And that's also exciting then for listeners to hear.