I had a lot of success from the start. I never really was tested for long periods of time. I got my first professional job while I was a senior in college. I signed with the William Morris Agency before I graduated.

Teenage readers also have a different relationship with the authors whose work they value than adult readers do. I loved Toni Morrison but I don't have any desire to follow her on Twitter. I just want to read her books.

What I wanted to do in rock 'n roll was merge poetry with sonic scapes and the two people who had contributed so much to that were Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison.

I'm not into animal rights. I'm only into animal welfare and health. I've been with the Morris Animal Foundation since the '70s. We're a health organization. We fund campaign health studies for dogs cats lizards and wildlife. I've worked with the L.A. Zoo for about the same length of time. I get my animal fixes!

We all know how funny Morrissey is. Actually you know what? I say that sarcastically. His songs are some of the funniest songs I've ever heard in my life. I mean really. I mean not that the 'Girlfriend in a Coma' is like really funny.

I enjoy racing historic motorcars from the '50s and '60s. The seed of my interest was planted when I was about 12 years old and took over my mother's Morris Minor. I drove it around my father's farm. But my favorite car is still a McLaren F1 which I have had for 10 years.

I rate Morrissey as one of the best lyricists in Britain. For me he's up there with Bryan Ferry.