I have any number of completely dark obsessions and fascinations, and none of this was present in my profile or my growing profile as a writer.

My rule has always been, write the next part of the book that you seem to know well. So I won't necessarily write chapter two after chapter one.

Because that's what heaven is...it's opening the door of a house in twilight and everyone you love is there.

My theory of characterization is basically this: Put some dirt on a hero, and put some sunshine on the villain, one brush stroke of beauty on the villain.

When you write, you take the ball and you hold it up to the light and you turn it slowly, and let people draw their own conclusions. And try to bring empathy to all sides of the equation.

It's different being afraid when there's the hope it will amount to something.

My inventing time is all done under the influence of aerobic exercise. Basically, I do all my thinking while I run.