I really hate those books where the murderer turns out to be somebody you never heard of who pops up in the last chapter.

If there is no way out, the best course of action is to find a way further in.

Listen to advice. You don't know how many writer's conferences I've taught at where at least half the audience fights all the conventions of the field.

Everybody is a True Believer. Everybody has a little nugget they're convinced of that is the opposite of the nugget on the other side. And they're convinced it's fact.

I tend to come up with people more than situations - most of my books start with a character.

You've either got to find a way to make your continuing characters interesting without making them maudlin or overwrought, or you've got to put more emphasis on the suspects.

If you don't burn the candle at both ends, what's the candle got two ends for?