SOURCE: An interview in America, Vol. 155, No. 14, November 15, 1986, pp. 300-01.

In the following interview, which took place prior to his debilitating automobile accident, Dubus discusses literary and religious influences on his work.

[Samway:] What authors or works of literature have influenced you?

[Dubus:] Chekhov the most. I cut my teeth on Hemingway, not stylistically or thematically, but because I did a research paper on him as an undergraduate. I learned a lot about the craft, not so much from reading his work, but about his approaches to writing. He gave me advice: Do physical exercise after writing and forget what you have written; don't think about it; let your subconscious think about it; always stop when you're doing well; save the rest for the next day and stop in midsentence (I still do that). I've violated that rule twice in my career; I went ahead and got too...