You have to go out of your way as a suspense novelist to find situations where the protagonists are somewhat helpless and in real danger.
When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week, waiting tables, and I did that for about six months. I didn't mind it at all, I was really happy for that experience, but it made me really get aggressive about what I want. I've been doing this since I was eight, and never considered doing anyt