Everybody had something horrible happen to them at one time or another in their life.

As a Southerner, I love obstacles for my characters.

I'm afraid of the general things that everyone is afraid of: a bump in the night that could be a cat or Death dragging his sickle across the room; losing my health; becoming homeless, never meeting George Clooney.

People just make stupid mistakes. And they keep making them and keep making them, and suddenly they can't dig themselves out.

Meg Gardiner is one of my favorite authors. She always delivers a terrific read. Phantom Instinct should go to the top of your 'to-be-read' pile.

A good editor is one of the sharpest tools a writer can have in her toolbox.

Everyone had a reason for everything they did, even if that reason was sometimes stupidity.