I have such bad memories, sitting in the back of a classroom, being told, you know, everybody is going to read a paragraph, and skipping ahead to my paragraph and being mortified and trying to read it enough times so that I wouldn't stutter and stammer, getting called on, even in high school.

I have been blessed to have the same editor and work for a great publishing house.

When I give a lot of speeches, they're always on the fly. I mean, I know what I'm going to say roughly, but I do not - will not read.

There's a lot more to publishing a book than writing it and slapping a cover on it.

Anybody who knew me growing up calls me Vinny.

A major theme in all my books is that the CIA is not only the first line of defense but they should also be the first line of offense.

I am a huge fan of Alan Furst. Furst is the best in the business--the most talented espionage novelist of our generation.