Writers often say that characters begin to write themselves, and I never used to believe that. I always thought that was complete hogwash.

I think snobbery is one of the oldest customs in the world, and the rich will always find ways to rank each other and make themselves feel more special than others.

My grandmother used to get her shoes made in Paris in the '30s, and they would be shipped to her in Singapore.

The characters that populate my books are global nomads in their own right, keeping multiple homes around the world and constantly jet-setting to new places.

There are old-money Asians that would never be caught dead with a Chanel handbag or sporting anything that has a label it.

If I were to generalize a bit, I would say that the ultra rich in Asia live on a scale that far surpasses the wealthy in the U.S. or Europe.