Thomas Perry Quotes

I don`t consciously do anything to maintain a unique voice.

Being comfortable isn`t the way to learn to expand your abilities.

I`m proud of Nightlife. Although it won`t be published until March 2006, the first review just appeared in Publishers` Weekly, and it`s very positive.

If I don`t have a project going, I sit down and begin to write something - a character sketch, a monologue, a description of some sight, or even just a list of ideas.

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

I held a variety of jobs - most notably ten years working in universities - and kept on writing.

Contrary to what many writers imply about the process, nobody forces a writer to sell his work to the film industry.

Reading a novel in which all characters illustrate patience, hard work, chastity, and delayed gratification could be a pretty dull experience.

I do like to explore evil characters in my books.

Once you have invented a character with three dimensions and a voice, you begin to realize that some of the things you`d like him to do to further your plot are things that such a person wouldn`t, or couldn`t, do.

The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They`re the ones who make a novel into a thriller. They`re active, and most of the common virtues, the signs of a good person, are not.

It was a lot of fun, and writing a series is comfortable. It`s almost like having a secure job.

But at the same time, the commonplace statement about them is true: every character is the hero of his own story. Each has a justification for his actions that is convincing to him. It`s fun to give these people voices.

It`s important, I think, for a writer of fiction to maintain an awareness of the pace and shape of the book as he`s writing it. That is, he should be making an object, not chattering.

When producers make a film, their responsibility is to make the best film they can, not necessarily to faithfully reproduce my book.

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 confusing film.

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

If you`ll think about various series you`ve read, can you think of any instance in which, say, the tenth volume of the series is notably better than the first nine? I can`t.

I don`t think the problem is that people don`t read enough mystery books, but that people don`t read.

And yes, I`m also traveling more, not only to promote DEAD AIM, but also on other public appearances. This is partly because I want to make up for not doing it in the past.

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

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

What I look for in any character, good or bad, is whether I can hear him speak. If I can imagine him that clearly, then I can write about him.

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 think we did a great job of putting together a program that would have made good e-books available had people been buying e-books in any real numbers.

I don`t have dry seasons, because I don`t allow them.

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

I do want to write about Jane Whitefield again, but only when I have a good enough idea - something I`ve figured out about her that`s news and that`s worth a reader`s time.

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.

There are days when I intentionally don`t write. For instance, I never write when I`m traveling, because travel is a situation where I can learn more by looking and listening than by working.