I did an interview with Howard Miller for Avatar Review in 2008. In it, I said

When I sent my manuscript out to a friend he said, “Are you aware how many times you mention death?” And then I did look at that and saw that I mention it a lot. Death, bones, blood. I don’t think I’m that morbid a person, but I do tend to be drawn toward extremely depressing, personally depressing, subject matter.

And

After realizing how dark and gloomy all of my work seemed to be, I made a conscious effort to lighten up. I haven’t been wholly successful, but I think my work is richer now.

Nine years after I published pseudophakia and seven years after claiming I was making an effort to lighten up, it’s time to admit the truth. “I haven’t been wholly successful” is the understatement of a lifetime. “I haven’t been at all successful” is more accurate. Maybe “I failed utterly” or “The level of failure I have demonstrated is remarkably immeasurable and startling” or “I suck at this ‘lightening up’ dealio.”