The CIA's research program is described in a book called "The Search for the Manchurian Candidate."

An awful lot of thriller writers write women rather badly. So just doing it OK gets a lot of credit.

For success, the author must make the reader care about the destiny of the principals, and sustain this anxiety, or suspense, for about 100,000 words.

I like reading history, and actually most authors enjoy the research part because it is, after all, easier than writing.

You see, all that I ever held dear has been taken from me," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And when you've lost everything-" Her facade began to crumble, and her voice broke, but she made herself carry on. "When you've lost everything, you've got nothing to lose.

Why was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?

I started writing stories in my spare time.