I'm not a magician. I'am an alchemyst, a man of science, though perhaps not the science you would be familiar with.

You need to play to win. But you also need to win ... to play.

My advice is to write about what you are interested in. If you read science fiction and fantasy, then write in that genre. If you read romance novels, then try writing one.

I'm always writing - its what I like to do. But when I'm not writing, I'm reading.

When I retire, I don't want to just move to some island somewhere. I want to be the guy who gives it all back. I want it to be like, 'Hey who donated that hospital wing that's saving so many lives?' 'I don't know. It was anonymous.' 'Well, guess what. It was Michael Scott.' 'But how do you know? It was anonymous.' 'Because I'm him.

Some stories wait their turn to be told, others just tap you on the shoulder and insist you tell them.

The best moment is when you walk into a bookstore and see a pile of your books - that is the oddest experience in the world!