Of course, all writers draw upon their personal experiences in describing day-to-day life and human relationships, but I tend to keep my own experiences largely separate from my stories.

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.

Insecurity was never humility

The law, " he continued, "is made by the rich people so that the poor people can't get ahead...

The past is an educational toy for the present. It should be discarded the moment its usefulness is outgrown.

The previous generation, such as Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain, lost to Australia on many occasions.

Spiritual security means you are fully alive and comfortable in your life as it is, without expecting anything.

All lies, white or black, disgrace a gentleman, although I grant there is a difference: to say the least of it, it is a dangerous habit, for white lies are but the gentleman ushers to black ones.

Magazines are another medium I love, because 95% is simply based on 'How the hell are we going to fill all this blank space?

A language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.

I am a great believer in naps, whatever age you are.

I had a lot of friends that were extremely hedonistic, extremely debauched, swapping partners etc.