The biggest influence on my books was the fact that I had worked in a newspaper for so long. In a daily paper, you learn to write very quickly; there is no time to sit and brood about what you are going to say.

In my stories, whenever there's somebody wonderful and charming and bright and intelligent, that's me!

The most important thing to realize is that everyone is capable of telling a story.

I've had a good life, full of more success and happiness than I ever expected.

I couldn't have children, so that's the bad side. But compared to everything else I have, it's not all that terribly bad. I count my winners rather than my losers.

I'm pleased to have outsold great writers. But I'm not insane - I realize I am a writer people buy to take on vacation.

I look placid, you see, that's why people think I'm fine. Inside I worry a lot.