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4)Gravity was an amazing book. Has space and the space programs been
of
interest to you a long time? Have you any interest in going into space
your self?
I'm an old Star Trekker, and once dreamed of being an astronaut. I was
in
high school when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and I still remember
that
as one of the most amazing -- and moving -- events of my lifetime. Once,
I
would have jumped at the chance to go into space. But knowing what I do
now,
about the incredible risks involved, I believe that space is no place
for
amateurs. At least, not yet.
5)What sparks ideas for you? Do you find things that scare you and then
scare us with them?
Ideas come from all over the place. HARVEST, about a black market in
human
organs, was sparked by a conversation I had with a cop who'd just returned
from Russia. He told me that kids were vanishing from the streets of Moscow,
and the police there thought those kids were being kidnapped as organ
donors.
That immediately launched a novel for me. THE SURGEON was inspired by
quite
a different source. A reader came up to me at a signing and told me she
really, really wanted me to write a book about her favorite topic: "serial
killers and twisted sex." (I found out later that she was a third-grade
teacher!) I find ideas in the newspaper, in magazines, and in everyday
conversations. A writer has to be open to everything as source material.
6) what brought about the change from romantic thrillers to more mystery
thriller oriented books?
It all had to do with that idea for HARVEST dropping into my lap. Up
till
then, I'd been happily writing romantic thrillers. But HARVEST, just by
its
premise, was a far deeper and darker idea. When I discussed the idea with
my
agent at the time, she was wildly enthusiastic and told me that was exactly
the book I should be writing.
When HARVEST hit the NY Times bestseller list, I knew that suspense was
going
to be the new focus for all my books from then on.
7) What authors do you enjoy?
I love to read a wide variety of literature. I'm fond of Margaret Atwood,
Barbara Kingsolver, and Stephen King. Among suspense novelists, my favorites
are Patricia Cornwell and Jeffrey Deaver.
8) Any interest on the Hollywood front?
The film rights to HARVEST were bought by Paramount, and 20th Century
Fox
bought the rights to GRAVITY. However, neither project has yet produced
a
script they're happy with.
9) Do you approach your writing scientifically? Setting up outlines,
and
keeping journals?
I'm very UNscientific! I have a vague idea of where a story is headed
when I
sit down, and then I let it just happen. I find that if a story wants
to
take an unexpected twist, it's best to just let it go where it wants to
go.
I don't always know which characters will live and which will die --
sometimes they surprise me. I let the characters tell me who they are.
It all makes for inefficient writing, and lots of re-writes, but in the
end,
I think, if a twist surprises me, then it probably surprises my readers
as
well.
10) Do you think the internet is a tool that can help authors or just
another toy?
I use the internet extensively. For instance, while researching GRAVITY,
I
downloaded a lot of information from the NASA website, and corresponded
with
engineers there by e-mail. And you can learn the most obscure facts online.
In THE SURGEON, my villain has a fascination with the bloodier episodes
of
human history, and in human sacrifice in particular. An online search
introduced me to some horrifying practices I had never heard of before
-- for
instance, how DID those Aztecs cut out human hearts? What was the surgical
approach? Yep. I found the answer on the internet.
11)You really play the fiddle?
I even have a ragtag band! We play for parties and public events, but
most
of the time, we just get together and make a lot of noise.
12) What kind of music do you listen too? I s there a music generation
gap
in your home?
I love Celtic music. My teenage sons listen to -- strangely enough --
The
Eagles and some of those good, melodic oldies from Bread and Richard Harris.
So there's not much of a generation gap there, thank heavens. I don't
think
I could stand hearing rap all day.
13) Do you enjoy feedback from fans and meeting fans?
I love getting feedback. At heart I'm a very shy person, and meeting
fans
requires me to put on a public face, which is exhausting for me. Still,
the
experience of talking to people face-to-face is so rewarding, and I'm
SO
appreciative whenever readers make the enormous effort to go to a bookstore
to see me. (And for readers who are afraid of authors -- the truth is,
we
authors are often just as afraid of you!)
14) any weird experiences with fans? I’m guessing with the books
you write,
you might have occasion to run into some strange people.
I've had very few weird experiences. Most of the fans who come to meet
me
appear to be quite sane. Although, with THE SURGEON, I think some strange
ones are going to start coming out of the woodwork!
15) How would you describe a perfect day?
Writing my four-page quota before noon, and taking the rest of the day
off!
16) You seem to have been very lucky with your cover art. Do you have
any
input with this?
Yes, my contracts call for my approval of all cover art. Although, frankly,
I'm not a very good judge of which covers will work. There are all sorts
of
superstitions in NYC about what should and should not be on a cover. (e.g.,
wisdom there says green covers are bad, and snakes/bare feet/palm trees
are
bad luck.) Most of the time, all I can say is "I'll know a good cover
when I
see it."
17) If you were to go back in time and meet 17 year old Tess, what would
you
tell her?
To forget that loser boyfriend in college and spend the summer in Mexico
instead!
18) What do you consider the biggest perk to being an author?
That I can spend my life doing exactly what I've always loved doing --
making
up stories.
19) Do you ever get writer’s block? If so , what do you do about
it?
Oh, yes. I get block with every single book I've ever written, and it
usually has to do with my subconscious telling me that I've written myself
or
my characters into a corner. Or that my characters have just done something
I know in my heart they wouldn't really do. I find that I just have to
take
a few days or weeks off until the solution comes to me. I take lots of
long
walks. And long drives in the car seem to work wonders.
20) What is the one thing that’s always in your fridge?
Dijon mustard. Can't live without it!
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