I've never progressed very far from my days as a smart aleck in middle school.

You can do the best research and be making the strongest intellectual argument, but if readers don't get past the third paragraph you've wasted your energy and valuable ink.

My books are character-driven. They're not driven by the story.

Bangkok 8 is one of the most startling and provocative mysteries that I've read in years. The characters are marvelously unique, the setting is intoxicating and the plot unwinds in dark illusory strands, reminiscent of Gorky Park. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down.

I've always enjoyed making people laugh. But in order for me to be funny, I have to get ticked off about something.

The evening news made her wonder if God was dead; the morning sun made her believe He wasn't.

Jimmy Lee Baylis was a wise man, and knew better than to talk back to the man who signed his paycheck.