Ideally, I like to integrate the human issues into the suspense story itself.

I also try very hard to create characters - both heroes and villains - with psychological depth.

You think publishing is tough but the music world is ten times tougher.

Certainly going back to Sherlock Holmes we have a tradition of forensic science featured in detective stories.

Readers are paramount. I live to write books for them.

If you have a craftsman's command of the language and basic writing techniques you'll be able to write - as long as you know what you want to say

In suspense novels even subplots about relationships have to have conflict.

I was editor of my high school literary magazine and a reporter for the school newspaper.

When you work alone, you need to socialize at some level.

My books are primarily plot driven but the best plot in the world is useless if you don't populate them with characters that readers can care about.

I like the way words go together and I like the gamesmanship of writing poetry. It is such a challenge.

Not everyone who talks less or keeps quiet whenever they are with or around you does that because they find you interesting or knowledgeable

My hands are dying.

Stay out of the court of self-judgment, for there is no presumption of innocence.

True love is actually very hard to understand... Everybody is looking for love, everybody is fighting for love... But because they can't bear to say it outloud, they express it through songs

Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races

I would like to talk about some of the things that happened that made me know that there was something wrong in the south from a child.

Only we should not be influenced by the winds.

Failing is another stepping-stone to greatness.

How quickly one accepts the incredible if only one sees it enough.

I got everybody on my side through comedy.