Current Random Fieldwork

I have done a lot of research on all my novels. In preparation for the last three books I administered injections to bodybuilders, hung out in a polygamist compound and hiked into active marijuana grow-sites. I call it fieldwork. I like to throw myself into the worlds that I write about and soak up as many details as I can before I actually start the writing process. The way I look at it, everything is fieldwork. Life is research.

I’m a big hiker and sometimes go backpacking by myself at high altitude up in the Sierras—off trail. I like it best when I don’t see any sign of people. There are bears and mountain lions, lots of times the coyotes howl at the moon. It’s spooky, often scares the hell out of me, but I really love it and someday I’ll use it in a book.

On the other side of the coin, I love to ride dirt bikes in the desert. I like putting on the outfit, especially the chest protector and the boots, almost as much as the actual riding. Nothing better than camping in California City and riding the open desert.

I used to surf a lot, but then the sport became overly popular and I had to quit. I found that paddling out made me grumpy because of all those noisy people cluttering up the waves. So now I’m spending as much time as possible underneath the surf. I’ve always been a diver, but in the last couple of years I’ve become a fanatic. Recent favorite spots include Rangiroa in the Tuamotos, the northern Lau group in Fiji, and the outer rim of the Great Barrier Reef. Also Catalina Island in California. I am particularly concerned about the decimation of the shark population and plan to write about it soon.