Avoid prologues: they can be ­annoying, especially a prologue ­following an introduction that comes after a foreword.

A friend of mine who is in the publishing business knew I was writing a book, and he said, 'Have you said anything yet about the good guy? Because I know you spend so much time with the bad guys.' Because they're fun. So then you have to make the good guy fun, in order to compete. That's the challenge.

Skip the boring parts.

At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know too much at the start takes the pleasure out of discovering what the book is about.

It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing.

To me, a book is a book, an electronic device is not, and love of books was the reason I started writing.

After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still a pleasure.