The first version of Bird on a Wire was very different from the final version. How come?
When I wrote the first version, I just wanted to create a cheerful story that somebody could enjoy reading on an airplane and then finish up on a beach. It was to be a nice, engaging novel that my aunt could appreciate, with no bad language and a happy ending. I sent the manuscript to my agent and she hated it. I also gave that manuscript to my aunt and she told me she wanted a tighter, darker, more conflicted storyline. I can take a hint, so I set out to create the far more challenging tale of Bird on a Wire. The first manuscript proved I could type 100,000 words. The second proved I could create a story, maintain its suspense, and write a mystery novel to be proud of.