Plot is tremendously important to me: I can't stand books where nothing happens, and I can't imagine ever writing a novel without at least one murder.

When I'm writing new material, I never have any trouble coming up with ideas.

I'm very finicky about when I'm in the right mood to write. So most days, I find some excuse not to do anything.

Statistically, you don't have much chance of becoming president if you're not tall and fairly handsome or at least conventional-looking.

There's never a bad time to put earplugs in. They're the kind of thing you can reject as a bit lame, but somebody told me to do start wearing earplugs and it turned out to be great advice.

I read 'The Good Soldier' by Ford Madox Ford again every so often.

I don't have a day job, so I read any time of day.