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.

There are days when I intentionally don't write. For instance, I never write when I'm traveling, because travel is a situation where I can learn more by looking and listening than by working.

You have very accurately described the difficulty of presenting my books on film: many of my characters are alone most of the time, and when they do talk, what they say is mostly lies. That can make for a pretty confusing film.

But at the same time, the commonplace statement about them is true: every character is the hero of his own story. Each has a justification for his actions that is convincing to him. It's fun to give these people voices.

Being comfortable isn't the way to learn to expand your abilities.

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

All writers are mimics, and I'm not interested in picking up somebody else's style or voice.

Contrary to what many writers imply about the process, nobody forces a writer to sell his work to the film industry.

I do hope to bring Jane Whitefield back before too long.

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

I don't think the problem is that people don't read enough mystery books, but that people don't read.

I had been writing fiction since I was in eighth grade, because I loved it.

I held a variety of jobs - most notably ten years working in universities - and kept on writing.

It was a lot of fun, and writing a series is comfortable. It's almost like having a secure job.

Much of what we do in life has a huge component of luck.

Reading a novel in which all characters illustrate patience, hard work, chastity, and delayed gratification could be a pretty dull experience.

What I look for in any character, good or bad, is whether I can hear him speak. If I can imagine him that clearly, then I can write about him.

When I write a book, I'm making it the best book I can.