"Johnny started out as myself, but he quickly took on a life of his own, and I think many readers will be able to identify with him (he is a rather abstract character, and not deeply developed). Marilyn is based on three women I have known over the years, one from college, one from New York, and one from San Francisco."

"I've been asked whether I'm trying to bring back the Surrealist movement, and I suppose that in a way I am, although my brand of Surrealism is more benign and less frightening than that of Ernst or Chirico, and has none of the scatological humor-references that you find in Dali. I'm probably closest to Breton, although I must admit I had only read Breton's manifestos, and none of his poetry, at the time I wrote this book. It was exciting for me to see how much I shared with him."