Deep in my heart it still feels like I'm a journalist even though I haven't worked for a paper and carried a press pass for 14 years.

I would change very little because I have been very, very fortunate. A lot of things fell into place for me simply by happenstance. When that happens you don't really want to change anything, even if you could. Editorially my regrets are few and for the most part minor. I look back on my first published book and think I held on to it too long, babied it too long.

The characters I write about are very internal.

I think there's a general misconception that anything written quickly lacks quality, and I don't believe that.

I've learned over the years that sometimes if you ask the same question more than once you get different responses.

You can fall in love and make love many times but there is only one bullet with your name etched on the side. And if you are lucky enough to be shot with that bullet then the wound never heals.

You can't patch a wounded soul with a Band-Aid.