I do have to earn a living, so I'm conscious of probable reactions from readers, but the most important one is still the awareness that if I'm not enjoying a story, the reader won't either.

Quote by Thomas Perry

Topics: Thomas Perry Quotes

The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who...

The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who...

Yes, in my books I do edit myself to keep from becoming the Village Explainer.

Yes, in my books I do edit myself to keep from becoming the Village Explainer.

I think we did a great job of putting together a program that would have...

I think we did a great job of putting together a program that would have...

Reading a novel in which all characters illustrate patience, hard work, chastity, and delayed gratification...

Reading a novel in which all characters illustrate patience, hard work, chastity, and delayed gratification...

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

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

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

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

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

I do want to write about Jane Whitefield again, but only when I have a...

I do want to write about Jane Whitefield again, but only when I have a...

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

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

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

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

I do try not to spend much time reading in the suspense genre.

I do try not to spend much time reading in the suspense genre.

You have very accurately described the difficulty of presenting my books on film: many of...

You have very accurately described the difficulty of presenting my books on film: many of...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's important, I think, for a writer of fiction to maintain an awareness of the...

It's important, I think, for a writer of fiction to maintain an awareness of the...

If I don't have a project going, I sit down and begin to write something...

If I don't have a project going, I sit down and begin to write something...

I held a variety of jobs - most notably ten years working in universities -...

I held a variety of jobs - most notably ten years working in universities -...

But at the same time, the commonplace statement about them is true: every character is...

But at the same time, the commonplace statement about them is true: every character is...