„I realized there was probably a wide gulf between what I could do and what would succeed with readers. I felt that I'd had a chance to write two novels, and neither of them had really created much stir, so maybe I should find real employment, and earn my keep.“ Zitat nach: Don Lee: About Richard Ford: A Profile. In: Ploughshares, Issue 70, Fall 1996.
„I know it's much more of a challenge – for me in particular – to find language for people essaying to be better and happier, than for people wrestling with murder and mayhem.“ Zitat nach: Don Lee: About Richard Ford: A Profile. In: Ploughshares, Issue 70, Fall 1996.