On writing & why it takes so long

'How long did it take you to write Heartwood?' I was recently asked.

About 7 or 8 years, truthfully. Maybe even longer.

I try to be kind to myself about this. I mean, I was writing about life and death, so it wasn't like I picked the easiest topic in the world ;)

Also, part of it had to do with the way I write. I try not to waste words. That takes a looong time to accomplish. It's like what Mark Twain once said:

“I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”