feet away, barer negotiates for her clients. it's a swirl of literary activity born out of a moment of artistic doubt. was there a moment where you said, like, "i have to do something to make money, because writing isn't doing it"? >> whitehead: i do remember after my poker book, you know, it came out, and i was-- and, no one really liked it. and-- ( laughs ) >> barer: i liked it. ( laughs ) >> whitehead: i think it's a great book. i was like, "so you just, like, write a book, and it comes out? then write a book again?" >> barer: i remember this conversation. >> whitehead: "and then write a book again until, like, you die. that seems, like, so terrible." and i was like, "should i go to cooking school?" like, "i don't know. i like cooking." like-- and then, as always happens, i'm like, "i have to get back to work. this sucks." i'm like-- ( laughs ) i just have to, you know, reconnect with, you know, what i love. >> dickerson: after that poker book, he had another book outlined, but julie encouraged him to drop it and instead writ
