I do have to earn a living, so I'm conscious of probable reactions from readers, but the most important one is still the awareness that if I'm not enjoying a story, the reader won't either.

The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who make a novel into a thriller. They're active, and most of the common virtues, the signs of a good person, are not.

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

I do try not to spend much time reading in the suspense genre.

I don't consciously do anything to maintain a unique voice.

Yes, in my books I do edit myself to keep from becoming the Village Explainer.

I don't have dry seasons, because I don't allow them.