Deception is mostly a game we play with ourselves.

I think I make better use of language and imagery than when I started out.

A cat never discusses his business with humans, not even Princesses. A cat never explains and never apologizes. A cat never alibis. You must accept a cat as it is and for what it is and not expect more than the pleasure of its company.

We must nurture and love, if life is to have any real meaning. But First we must find a way to survive against the things that prevent us from doing so.

Might have, could have, may have, should have—the haves and have nots reduced to pointless possibilities.

Anyway, several rewrites later, Del Rey Books did publish my first novel, and it did become the first work of fiction on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list.

After all, you put a lot into creating a universe and everything that goes with it, and it seems a shame to use it only once.