I was 29 when I wrote my first novel. But I was 45 when I quit for good. I was a 16-year overnight success.

Writing is akin to method acting. Before the writer can render a fully convincing world, he or she must inhabit that world, and every major character who lives there. I'm not suggesting that one always has to go this far. But I truly believe what makes the setting for my novels come alive is that I've lived there first.

Aggressiveness is good in a combat leader. Combining that with ambition and insecurity becomes more problematic.

I was 29 when I wrote my first novel. But I was 45 when I quit for good. I was a 16-year overnight success.

Morally repugnant and tactically stupid are a lousy combination.

Write what you care about and understand. Writers should never try to outguess the marketplace in search of a salable idea; the simple truth is that all good books will eventually find a publisher if the writer tries hard enough, and a central secret to writing a good book is to write on that people like you will enjoy.

The only judgment that truly matters is the final judgment.