I feel I'm functioning at some level as a journalist because even though I write fiction, I'm trying to get the world accurate.

I went into journalism to learn the craft of writing and to get close to the world I wanted to write about - police and criminals, the criminal justice system.

No Way Back is my kind of novel - a tough, taut thriller - Mofina knows the world he writes about.

In a daydream sort of way, I think it would be pretty cool to direct a movie. But I have been on movie and TV sets and know it is hard work. I like directing it in my mind. It is easier.

I don't think anyone will believe me, but I've never been pressured by a publisher to churn out a book.

I think I would spend the first 30 weeks not writing, just clearing my head and seeing parts of the world I haven't seen and going back to places I have seen and love.

There is nothing you can do about the past except keep it there.