The Knowledge: A Too Close To True Novel

“You’re trying to publish this new book to prove to Stacy/Lacy/Tracy that you’re not a bum and a loser. It’s way past that, sweetheart. You’ve made her into an icon, as if she possesses the magical power to pronounce absolution on you. Don’t put that on her. It’s not fair to her. And besides, you’re the one whose opinion counts, not her. Forget her

We’re artists,” Nicolette says. “This is our life. There’s no white picket fence out there for you or for me, honey. There never was and there never will be.”

Marty has one other mantra: “Talent is bullshit.” “I seen a million writers with talent. It means nothing. You need guts, you need stick-to-it-iveness. It’s work, you gotta work, do the fucking work. That’s why you’re gonna make it, son. You work. No one can take that away from you. “And I’ll tell you something else,” Marty says to me now over the

She launches into what feels like a five-minute harangue on my Whatthefuck attitude and the insane, self-destructive way I live my life. “You haven’t turned pro at all. You’re an amateur. Look at your life. It’s wall-to-wall with distractions. The rock band. This nutty taxi guy. You’re getting yourself beaten up for Christ’s sake! And when you run

Stop blaming yourself for screwing around on her. You did it to save yourself. You blew up your marriage deliberately because you knew if you stayed in it you’d never be a writer. You’d never do what you were put on this Earth to do.”

“He’s fearless and he’s resourceful,” says Joey. “In this town that ain’t a bad combo.”