Even if you are a best-seller you feel insecure because it is all so unpredictable.

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.

With DNA, the ability to find out a lot more with a lot less has increased our ability for identification.

The biggest risk with a series that goes on this long is that you'll get bored with the character.

I won't put myself in a position where I'm vulnerable.

And suddenly the world was filled with wooden faces and flat voices - and, you were alone.

In my forties, my optimism was boundless. I had really good health and tremendous success which allowed me to do anything I wanted.