SOURCE: “The Joys and Sorrows of Staying Put,” in Los Angeles Times, November 29, 2000, pp. E1, E8.

In the following interview, Simpson discusses the themes and characters of Off Keck Road

More than a year ago, in the middle of writing her fourth major novel, Mona Simpson, 43, took some time off to write a novella, Off Keck Road.

She sent a draft to her editor at Knopf, Gary Fisketjon, who wanted to publish it on the spot. Simpson wasn't so sure; the novella was a departure from her other books in both size and subject matter, and she'd been planning to include it in a collection of shorter works.

Fisketjon wasn't so equivocal. Last spring, Simpson received a copy of Knopf's fall catalog and discovered that Off Keck Road was listed among the offerings—never mind that there wasn't even a contract at that point. Outfoxed, Simpson capitulated; she...