Predisposition is not predestination.

An emotion is a thought, yes, an idea, but it is also a sensation, an ache in your body. Desire, love, hate, fear, repulsion - you feel these things in your muscle and bones, not just in your mind.

I love sports, as all Bostonians seem to. I love books and movies, as all writers seem to.

Good stories are driven by conflict, tension, and high stakes.

I don't ever write with a particular audience in mind. I just write books that please me.

When I was 30 or so - by that time I had become an assistant D.A. - I decided I would try to write a novel. To be clear: I did not decide to become a novelist. Honestly, it never crossed my mind that I could actually earn a living as a professional novelist.

You know, being confident isn't the same as being right.