I thought it was time for a tough, smart, likable female private investigator, and that's how VI came to life.

I grew up in conservative rural Kansas in the 1950s when it was expected that girls would not have a life outside the home, so educating them was a waste of time.

You can tell he never even considered the possibility of something like this happening to him. He's as out of his element hiring an investigator to snoop on his wife as he would be auditioning for a Russian ballet.

I wish I could remember where I put things. I spend half my life looking for my keys. With the other half I look for my glasses.

I had wanted to write Ghost Country for a long time, but it wouldn't work.

I realised I'd never climb Everest but thought I could still write a book.