…made me promise to cut down on the drinking and swearing, which I have. Unfortunately, this has left me dim-witted and nearly speechless.

I think it's more difficult now to write a spy thriller with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many authors have tried, but few have succeeded in capturing the interest of readers.

I try to use short sentences, short paragraphs and short chapters to keep the reader's interest.

How you handle life depends a lot on how you handle plan B, or if you have a plan B.

I was trained in Army Intelligence, but spent most of my army career in the infantry. But like many people of my generation, I was very much caught up in the Cold War, and books and movies about espionage.

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

Ernest Hemingway was the author I drew inspiration from.