He feared no challenger face-to-face, but war was deception, as Khevat had taught him, and not all men fought their enemies with spear and fist.

I think each book sort of finds its own theme as it goes on. 'Warded Man' was fear. 'Desert Spear' was exploration of the other. 'Daylight War' was relationships. Some of this is intentional, and some of it evolves naturally. The series as a whole is obviously something I have given a lot of thought to, but each book is its own animal as well.

Nothing replaces being in the same room, face-to-face, breathing the same air and reading and feeling each other's micro-expressions.

Usually in fist fights you get punched in the face.

Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.

There is no substitute for face-to-face reporting and research.