As a reward for their efforts however those early Christians were beaten stoned to death thrown to the lions tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.

'Blind Curve ' the book I'm working on now sprang from a crazy incident that happened to me last year while on my book tour. I was pulled out of my car for a minor traffic violation - an incident that escalated into my being thrown into cuffs and told I was going to jail. Except in my story the hero doesn't get off as easily as I did.

When you first get money you buy all these things so no one thinks you're mean and you spread it around. You get a chauffeur and you find yourself thrown around the back of this car and you think I was happier when I had my own little car! I could drive myself!

A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in.

Pastry is different from cooking because you have to consider the chemistry beauty and flavor. It's not just sugar and eggs thrown together. I tell my pastry chefs to be in tune for all of this. You have to be challenged by using secret or unusual ingredients.

It's tricky. I've never been standing at the top of the tree with tons of money thrown at me. I've never really had a profile. So in a way I have this 'nothing to lose' attitude.