...his wartime experience had taught him to trust his instincts, even though he'd never been sure where they'd come from.

I suppose [my life] has most resembled a blue chip stock: fairly stable, more ups than downs, and gradually trending upward over time. A good buy, a lucky buy, and I've learned that not everyone can say that about his life.

I'll be the light in the window.

Each recognized the fact that real commitment could be proven only through the passage of time.

Marriage is a partnership, not a democracy.

That's good. And speaking of spelling, tell me -- do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower?

I've made the decision to adhere to three general truths when it comes to my novels: There will be a love-story element to the story, the novel will be set in eastern North Carolina, and the characters will be likeable. Then, I make each novel unique through differences in voice, perspective, age and personalities of the characters, and of course, plot.