Patricia Cornwell

“I believe the root of all evil is abuse of power.”

“Night fell clean and cold in Dublin, and wind moaned beyond my room as if a million pipes played the air.”

“I don't do things that are illegal.”

“On the last morning of Virginia's bloodiest year since the Civil War, I built a fire and sat facing a window of darkness where at sunrise I knew I would find the sea.”

“The biggest risk with a series that goes on this long is that you'll get bored with the character.”

“Even when I am writing I usually take a break around lunchtime and go for a little walk to clear out my head.”

“I wouldn't want to donate my body for scientific study.”

“I constantly remind people that crime isn't solved by technology; it's solved by people.”

“If you chomp down too hard on my work, you're going to break your teeth.”

“My fans want me to talk to them. And even if they want to be critical, I want to hear what they've got to say.”

“That's why I think the 'Scarpetta' series has worked so well because people like spending time with this character.”

“But when I was a little kid, I was always writing stories and illustrating little books that I would create.”

“Do no harm and leave the world a better place than you found it.”