Collins masterfully blends fact and fiction...transcends the historical thriller.

In suspense novels even subplots about relationships have to have conflict.

When it comes time to write the book itself I'll shut the lights out, picture the scene I'm about to write then close my eyes and go at it. Yes, I can touch type.

Ideally, I like to integrate the human issues into the suspense story itself.

I think a lot of young aspiring writers get misdirected; they think 'I ought to write this, even though I enjoy reading that'. What you have to do is write what you enjoy reading.

I spend eight months outlining and researching the novel before I begin to write a single word of the prose.

People want to avoid the past. I suppose that's natural. When we tally up all we've said and done over the years, despite the wonderful memories, the regrets may be fewer but stand out more prominently, glowing coals that we can never quite extinguish, try though we might