.: kate madea at random house. charlie: what did she do for you?.l.: she's there to read what i've written and tell me what she thinks. it very important. -- it is very important. charlie: an element of trust is crucial. e.l.: she's incredibly honest. the fact that she liked this book as much as she did is enormously gratifying to me. i was almost happy. charlie: you mean it's hard to make you happy? why is it hard to make you happy? you are at the top rank of american letters. e.l.: that's why. charlie: do you worry you can keep it up? e.l.: i don't know. it's something in the dna. i just generally -- i did discover fairly early that it's important for your anxieties to remain undaunted i what happens. i used to be an editor and i would go to lunch and say how's the book going? he would say this is the greatest thing i've ever written. it's terrific. it's just wonderful and i would say to myself this guy is really in trouble. [laughter] charlie: suppose he said i'm lost and i don't know where it's going. e.l.: then i knew everything would be ok. c