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

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.

What do you tell a man with two black eyes? Nothing, he's already been told twice.

I try to leave out the parts readers skip.

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

I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it. I can't believe it when writers tell me 'I don't want to show my work to anybody'.

I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.