I don't believe in writer's block. I don't know what that is. There are just certain little areas that I know I'm going to get through. It's just a matter of finding a way.

I still read Hemingway. I still read his short stories because they're so good. He doesn't waste any words.

I never see my bad guys as simply bad. They want pretty much the same thing that you and I want: they want to be happy.

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.

To me, writing is the most fun. It's not always fun, but finally when you make it come out the way you want, it's then you can say, 'It's fun, boy.'

Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.

Really, when I write a book I'm the only one I have to please. That's the beauty of writing a book instead of a screenplay.