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

There are cities that get by on their good looks, offer climate and scenery, views of mountains or oceans, rockbound or with palm trees. And there are cities like Detroit that have to work for a living.

My purpose is to entertain and please myself. I feel that if I am entertained, then there will be enough other readers who will be entertained, too.

I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.

Using adverbs is a mortal sin.

It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.