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I do as much bookish research as I can but when I sit down to write, often I think, 'Wait, I was there.' That is one of the great advantages of having wandered around the world and lived in so many places and met such fascinating people.

I've always liked the idea that writing is a form of travel. And I started my writing career as a mystery novelist for adults.

I've been lucky enough that I can gather all sorts of experiences and find inspiration by traveling around and by spending time with people I admire.

When I was young, I assumed that authors must have traveled the world or done exotic things in order to tell great stories.

Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.

My history writing was based on what I saw in strange, exotic places rather than just reading books.

I wouldn't say that I'm a travel novelist, but rather a novelist who travels - and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places.

I was well traveled, and I created this illusion of literacy through reading and writing. I wrote a book of short stories.

Most people I know don't even realize I'm an award-winning author, but I have gotten many opportunities to travel to places I'd never have visited otherwise.

I've been traveling the world and experiencing different places, and you always discover new things.