Letter writing plays such a big part in The Notebook. Is there something about letter writing that intrigues you?

The epistolary form has been around for centuries, of course. I'm neither the first nor finest to use it. But letters are a wonderful vehicle for emotions, if used effectively and sparingly. In the case of a novel written in third person, for instance, a letter might allow the reader deeper insight into a character's feelings or thoughts, since a letter is written in first person.

Also, I'm fond of letter writing myself. Call it old-fashioned, but that's how my wife and I fell in love. We lived a thousand miles apart in the early stages of our relationship, and I used to write her every day. She's often told me that it was the most romantic thing that had ever been done for her.