Q: Anderson tried to get commissions to paint murals, but after he failed at that, he stopped trying to advance his career. He concentrated on creating a body of work. An oeuvre.

A: He concentrated on devoting most of every day to painting. The oeuvre followed.

Q: He was left out of most art books because the people who wrote the books didn't know about him. How would they? Where would they have seen his work?

A: I'm left out of books about contemporary writing because the people who write about the subject have not seen my books.

Q: Were you trying to have a career as a writer? By publishing books?

A: Yes. I just wouldn't write what New York wanted, and that made it hard to find a publisher.

Q: Did you try to write what they wanted?

A: No. I tried to tell them why what I wrote would sell.

I didn't try to change what I wrote.

I had no interest in doing that.

Q: What did you write about?

A: About being an outsider.

Q: You can't write about being an outsider without living the life. And that means pushing them away when they try to include you.

A: Yes. I know.

Q: You're either an outsider or you're not.

A: Yes. I know.

Q: It's a question of authenticity.

A: That's how I see it.

Q: Anderson's recognized now.

A: Yes. 35 years after his death.

Q: Do you think it will take that long for it to happen to you?

A: I don't think it's going to happen to me at all.

I think this is it. This book.

Then the next book.

They go in Larry's closet.

I don't think anything happens beyond that.

I write them, Larry reads them, he puts them in his outbuilding, I put them in my outbuilding.

Q: Do you think you'll live to complete 40-Year Run?

A: I can't say.

I'll write as long as I can.

I didn't think I'd go 35 years without selling a book to New York or Hollywood. For money. Without making a custodian's wages writing enema vérité.

I don't see how I can go five more years.

But I'll just keep writing, and either I'll make it or I'll die first.

I'll die before I make it.

35 years is a good enough run.

A pretty good run.