My fiction is almost always inspired by a character's need or desire to rise above him- or herself. No one is perfect and some of us have much adversity in our lives; it is those people who struggle to rise above their nature or background that I find the most interesting and heroic.

My family was all police and hard hats at the refineries; they didn't know what to think about me. So I became a closet writer.

A dog could see your heart in your eyes, Budress told him, and dogs were drawn to our hearts.

Los Angeles is the evolutionary edge.

I have these huge black foam boards on the wall, and tacked to them, I have these white punch cards with my story ideas, scenes and notes.

I love the fact that you collaborate with your readers when you write a book.

Pike put down the cat. He slid from Pike's arms like molasses and puddled at his feet.