I sometimes use some personality traits to fashion part of a character. Most of my characters are composites of either people I know or people in the public eye.

Job happiness is directly proportional to the distance you are from the home office.

Basically, all women are nurturers and healers, and all men are mental patients to varying degrees.

Panic---a deep abiding, free-floating anxiety, often without any reason or logical basis.

I had a very strong desire to be successful at something.

I try to end every chapter with an air of suspense. I try to leave the reader wanting to turn the page.

I do write my manuscripts by hand, in pencil on legal pads. Then they are typed on a word processor by my typist.