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…

Quote by Thomas Perry

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

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

There are days when I intentionally don't write. For instance, I never write when I'm...

There are days when I intentionally don't write. For instance, I never write when I'm...

I do have to earn a living, so I'm conscious of probable reactions from readers,...

I do have to earn a living, so I'm conscious of probable reactions from readers,...

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

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

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.

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...

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 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...

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 -...

If you'll think about various series you've read, can you think of any instance in...

If you'll think about various series you've read, can you think of any instance in...

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

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

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

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.

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...

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...

Once you have invented a character with three dimensions and a voice, you begin to...

Once you have invented a character with three dimensions and a voice, you begin to...

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...

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...

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...