Possible Clues:

• Alain de Botton, for instance -- it sounds like he could be trying
• Writer says it�s nuts to support English
• Lamb? Try it without salt, initially
• Writer providing a series of reminiscences, say, is thoughtful
• Huxley, Lamb or Bacon, e.g
• Key to southern state is finding time for literary writer
• Writer tries to encapsulate current time
• Writer of short literary pieces
• Writer in romances, say, is touching
• Employed by Times, say, is Times writer