From the political angle, I'm trying to be apolitical if you will. I mean people say, 'Are you a red state or blue state?', I say, 'I'm purple.' I think there are great ideas on both sides of the aisle and neither side has cornered the market.

If we talk about the glass being half empty or half full, I want to know what does the glass look like from underneath the table?

Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend people.

What has bothered and angered radical Muslims is that I'm a non-Muslim writing anything at all about Islam. But this is fiction, and I don't think Islam is above criticism or fictionalization any more so than Judaism, Christianity, Mormonism or Hinduism is

Well, my books - I think one of the hallmarks of my thrillers is that they're based in reality.

We have an incredible warrior class in this country - people in law enforcement, intelligence - and I thank God every night we have them standing fast to protect us from the tremendous amount of evil that exists in the world.

You know when I told you the joke about how a friend will help you move, but a real friend will help you move a body? I was only kidding.