Trying to write books with a subject matter or in a genre or style you're not familiar with is the best way to find the Big Block looming.

In other words, the people who populate my books are more than caricatures.

It's becoming apparent that I like bad boys. That's one of my problems. They've all been bad boys. You're one too. You're a bad boy. But, I think you're a good bad boy.

My books are primarily plot driven but the best plot in the world is useless if you don't populate them with characters that readers can care about.

I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen-whether I'm working on a brief passage in a novel or brainstorming about an entire book-it's usually because I'm trying to shoehorn an idea into the passage or story where it has no place.

The best way to learn about writing is to study the work of other writers you admire.

I write pretty much anywhere - on planes, in hotel rooms, anywhere in my house.