Jeffery Deaver

In suspense novels even subplots about relationships have to have conflict.

Rule one: Write about settings you're familiar with.

I like the way words go together and I like the gamesmanship of writing poetry. It is such a challenge.

I liked the challenge of writing in a very concise structure in which both meaning and form are important.

It means working harder to do the research but I don't really mind - I don't think I have what it takes to chase criminals through back alleys and wade through blood at crime scenes.

Certainly going back to Sherlock Holmes we have a tradition of forensic science featured in detective stories.

I've always written, all my life, and when I was very young I developed an interest in poetry.

But one does not make living writing poetry unless you're a professor, and one frankly doesn't get a lot of girls as a poet.

So I work hard to present the human side of my characters while not neglecting the plot.

Of course, all writers draw upon their personal experiences in describing day-to-day life and human relationships, but I tend to keep my own experiences largely separate from my stories.

Ideally, I like to integrate the human issues into the suspense story itself.

You think publishing is tough but the music world is ten times tougher.