While armchair travelers dream of going places, traveling armchairs dream of staying put.

But I don't think people take bad advice. They've got intuition too, you know. In fact I'd be surprised if they take any advice at all.

... everyone must play his role.

Point of view is not something I consciously decide. Almost always, when I come up with a plot I find that the point of view has automatically arrived with it, part and parcel of the story.

The very thing that attracts you to someone can end up putting you off.

In real life I avoid all parties altogether, but on paper I can mingle with the best of them

Reading any piece of writing aloud is an acid test, particularly when it comes to dialogue. There were writers I'd always admired who suddenly rang false when I spoke their words in our living room.