In using personal pronouns, we also make our writing more like our spoken communication. Listen to almost any conversation and you'll notice frequent use of 'I', 'you', and 'we'. It's quite natural to speak that way.

One more point: When we use personal pronouns, we're more likely to use active verbs and less likely to use passive verbs. By passive, I mean 'to be' verbs, including 'is,' 'are,' and 'be.' When we replace these verbs with verbs that do something, we increase readability.

Try personal pronouns yourself. Take a document that you want others to read and rewrite it to include more of them. In process of doing that, you're bound to make it more readable. What's more, you'll also make your words more effective.

WB: How did you decide to become a full-time novelist? What were you doing before?

Peter: The short answer is that I finally started doing what I was designed to do. The long answer isn't that interesting. Earlier, I worked in radio. Before that, I was a spearfisherman in Bahamas.

WB: What would you say is “best” and “worst” aspects to this job?

Peter: The best is that hard-to-describe pleasure that comes with making something out of nothing. The worst? A toss-up between business aspects and solitary nature of job.

WB: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Peter: Lots of dead favorites, and a few living ones, including Stephen King and Saul Bellow.

WB: What can fans expect from you next?

Peter: My next book, "OBLIVION," comes out next year. It's my first detective novel. I think I can safely say that detective, Nick Petrov, faces challenges unlike any previous fictional detective. I'm also involved in another new thing for me--a young adult mystery series that I'm really excited about.

WB: Do you do a lot of research for your books?

Peter: Research--it depends what you mean. A lot of it just comes from living. But as for all little facts, I do what I have to to get them right. I visit places I write about--some, like southern Arizona in "Their Wildest Dreams," have a deep effect on me.

WB: What would you like to do if you weren't a novelist?

Peter: If I wasn't a novelist, I'd like to be a musician.

WB: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Peter: My advice to writers, at least those of narrative kind: Don't watch TV. There's nothing for you there.