“Creating the characters is the most creative part of the novel except for the language itself. There I am, sitting in front of my computer in right-brain mode, typing the things that come to mind - which become the seeds of plot. It's scary, though, because I always wonder: Is it going to be there this time?”

Novelist and historian from the United States, writing from the 1980s onward. She is best known for her bestselling historical fiction series, *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries*, which blends meticulous research with gripping crime narratives. Her work also includes nonfiction, particularly her influential writing on writing itself.