On the last morning of Virginia's bloodiest year since the Civil War, I built a fire and sat facing a window of darkness where at sunrise I knew I would find the sea.

If everybody, every day, would try to do one thing that pulls them beyond themselves the world will start being a better place.

You have to live where you wake up, even if someone else dreamed you there.

Everyone is doing forensics.

I'm always surprised when large numbers of people buy my books.

I've never taken a scalpel to a dead body.

I like crazy shoes or unusual cowboy boots and I collect big belt buckles.