You have to go out of your way as a suspense novelist to find situations where the protagonists are somewhat helpless and in real danger.

If everyone howled at every injustice, every act of barbarism, every act of unkindness, then we would be taking the first step towards a real humanity.

Even the most radical Islamic terrorist would not want to see the revered holy city of Medina go up. It would be like losing the Vatican in Rome.

You don't need to like your protagonists.

You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.

I hate when there's a deleted scene on a DVD with no explanation, or you have to go out of your way to find an alternate audio track.