The grande dame of contemporary mystery, Ruth Rendell, has written 70 books and is game for more. Her newest book, The Birthday Present, has earned critical praise for having a more cerebral element than her previous detective novels. The Washington Post said the author had a remarkable ability to lend "a matronly, almost magisterial tone" to her salacious, gory subject matter. The 79-year-old remains disciplined and dedicated to her craft. She wakes up at 6 a.m., works out, and then writes for three or four hours before lunch. "I still, after all these years, love writing and I don't say I write well, but I write as well as I can.”
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