I first tried a novel when I was 14. First finished one when I was 16. First started working on stuff that had a chance of being salable in my early 20s, then didn't write much fiction at all because I was in grad school.

I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap old fish.

Many things are possible. Few things are certain.

Fiction has to be plausible. All history has to do is happen.

People you don't like are pigheaded. Your friends are stubborn, or hold to their purpose.

Plausible development, building from what we know about what really did go on, and a whacking good story… Surrounded by Enemies delivers on both, big-time. So hold on to your hats, folks. You’re in for quite a ride.

People were as they were, not not as he wished them to be.