There were two things going on: 1) I had already established in my own mind where I wanted to go with the next series, and having James around as a Grey Eminence would have complicated matters. He had had an amazing life and it was time to bid him good-bye.

One likes to think one grows as a writer as one ages, else all you get is an old young writer. Beyond that is the changing landscape of the universe and the stories I choose to tell.

You can only have one first born child. You may love all your children deeply and with passion, but there is something unique about the first born.

If I leave my computer, I'm probably not going to get back for hours. If I take a few minutes to answer questions and go web surfing, then guilt kicks in and I get back to work.

Don't assume the world evolved in the order in which you discovered it.

If you're going to risk dying, there's no sense doing it wet, cold and hungry unless absolutely necessary.

The real secret of magic is that there is no magic.