Advances have fallen, generally, for everything except the biggest potential bestsellers. Given all the changes, both economic and technological, SF hasn't done too badly.

Getting inside the mind of a terrorist wasn't difficult at all. Even as children, human beings fabricate elaborate revenge fantasies. We're not a particular species. Check out popular video games.

Don't try to write to the trend of the moment.

I write early in the morning, usually after reading portions of at least half a dozen newspapers on the web.

How much research I have to do depends on the nature of the story. For fantasy, none at all.

Living gives you a better understanding of life. I would hope that my characters have become deeper and more rounded personalities. Wider travels have given me considerably greater insight into how cultural differences affect not only people, but politics and art.

It is always hard when reality intrudes on belief.