Historical figure he'd most like to meet: Jack the Ripper, just to find out who he was Living person he admires the most: Jonathan Miller Favorite book: War and Peace Favorite place: New York City--it's an entire world in itself Simply cannot stand: Car alarms How he writes: With music: Vaughn WIlliams for quiet mysterious scenes; Wagner for action; Faure or Ravel for human interest scenes Favorite historical period: The late nineteenth century Work in progress: Historical thriller set at the end of the Revolutionary War