There is the old catch-22 line that a mentally unstable person can't know, as per their illness, that they are unstable. But that was wrong. You can and do have the insight to see your own crazy.

I am, after all, a thriller writer. I routinely delve into the darkest chambers of the human heart. I've written about murder, kidnapping, depravity, horror, violence, and disfigurement.

I love to make even villains people you can relate to. When you find out who did it, I think you almost like the person, which is not easy to do.

No characters in 'Stay Close,' including the leads, are black and white. I want them to be grey. I think that makes for a much more interesting reading experience, something that will stay with you a little bit longer.

...desperation can toy with you and if you give desperation any wiggle room, it will find alternative answers

I like to go out and write. So I'll often go to a Starbucks or a local coffee bar, and I'll sit there and I'll write. I can write pretty much anywhere.

I'd never had money growing up, and it's never been that important to me, except maybe to take our kids on a nice vacation or something like that.