The outline is 95 percent of the book. Then I sit down and write, and that's the easy part.

I also try very hard to create characters - both heroes and villains - with psychological depth.

You think publishing is tough but the music world is ten times tougher.

Certainly going back to Sherlock Holmes we have a tradition of forensic science featured in detective stories.

Readers are paramount. I live to write books for them.

If you have a craftsman's command of the language and basic writing techniques you'll be able to write - as long as you know what you want to say

In suspense novels even subplots about relationships have to have conflict.

I was editor of my high school literary magazine and a reporter for the school newspaper.

When you work alone, you need to socialize at some level.

My books are primarily plot driven but the best plot in the world is useless if you don't populate them with characters that readers can care about.

I like the way words go together and I like the gamesmanship of writing poetry. It is such a challenge.

The leader who listens is the one society needs most. They don’t force their commands on people. They pay attention to their demands and set the pace for the change that society truly needs.

Proudness is from ignorance, humbleness is from wisdom

I'm always looking for challenges.

Them which is of other naturs thinks different.

The role of Italy and of Austria has diminished as has that of France and Britain; Germany and Japan have suffered catastrophically.

Ultimately you can't repress individuality, even though you can try.

The tendency of welfare spending in the United States has been to increase at an exponential rate.

The shy man will not learn; the impatient man should not teach.

Birth and Death are the two noblest expressions of bravery.

[If] there is mercy in nature, it is accidental. Nature is neither kind nor cruel but indifferent.