The 1970s, the decade of my teenage years, was a transitional period in American youth culture.

I certainly remember building model rockets. It was fun to watch the rocket blast into the air, suspenseful to wonder if the parachute would open to bring the rocket safely back.

My father was a professor of civil engineering at MIT, and my mother taught high school English.

Most of my teachers probably found I made less trouble if they let me read.

I admit there's an element of brutality in all my work - it's part of the truth about human existence I always want to explore - but the last thing I'm trying to do is put on some kind of freak show, inviting people to get off on other people's pain and humiliation.

I have a more developed sense of my priorities. Life has so much more meaning now.

I love to travel, so I visit a lot of places.

I've always liked the idea that writing is a form of travel. And I started my writing career as a mystery novelist for adults.