"I never intended to be a professional writer; as the story developed, the one thing I had in my hopes was that this would be something tangible to separate me from the nameless, numbered masses"

In this quote, R. A. Salvatore assesses his journey as an author and how it was never ever his initial intention to end up being a professional in the field. He describes that as he continued to develop his story, his only hope was that it would become something tangible that would set him apart from the countless others who stay anonymous and irrelevant in society. This statement highlights the author's desire to make a mark and leave a lasting impact through his writing. It also talks to the concept of standing apart and being recognized for one's special skills and contributions.