I often read nonfiction, and some of my ideas begin there.

Dreams aren't practical, but we can't live without them.

Once you're imagining being the main character, and you're having the conversations and actually being there, the magic in fiction writing takes over.

An image often propels the novel, gets it started. For me, it's an image that has a lot of emotion connected to it.

Some of the best things that have happened in my stories have happened seemingly of their own accord. The writer becomes a listener, just writing things down as they come.

Old Japanese saying, live scorpion in pants makes life interesting.

One day I get to that spot where I've discovered the secret to the maze, and then I've got free running the rest of the way. It's a great feeling.