I discovered his comedy after I wrote my first book, and by the time I started writing my second book, I realized I had to stop listening to Paul F. Tompkins’s recordings and not have any Paul F. Tompkins in my life, because all I was doing was copying him. He’s a dear friend and true inspiration, and someone who, for his sake and mine, I have to protect myself from, because he’s just too good. He alternately inspires me to do stuff that is derivative of him, which is insulting to both him and me, or, he just makes me incredibly mad.