College had little effect on me. I'd have been the same writer if I'd gone to MIT, except I'd have flunked out sooner.

Sure, I have advice for people starting to write. Don't. I don't need the competition.

Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.

Very few of my books are about who stole the Maltese Falcon

Coincidence exists, but believing in it never did me any good.

The key to growing up well, is being tough enough.

I write five pages a day. If you would read five pages a day, we'd stay right even.

I really don't know what I am going to do in terms of what a book is going to be about until I actually start writing it!

I think at this stage in my life I have learned that there are any number of things that men will never know, and can never hope to know, about women.

For David Parker and Daniel Parker, with the respect and admiration of their father, who grew up with them.

You do the best you can and you deal with the consequences. It's all there is.

Give of yourself to others and others will give of themselves to you.

Halloween is fun, but it wasn't always my favorite holiday. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

He'll get tired of chasing someone who doesn't chase back!

Women and men(both little and small) cared for anyone not at all they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same sun moon stars rain

My mother adores singing and plays piano. My uncle was a phenomenal pianist. My brother John is a double bassist. I used to play the piano, badly, and cello. My brother Peter played violin.

Oh we'll know each other forever, Bix says. The days of losing touch are almost gone.

What is the difference between the Marine Corps and the Boy Scouts? The Boy Scouts have adult leadership.

It's a responsibility of the writer to get the reader out of the story somehow.

You can't fool me, comrade. You want to put on a cowboy hat and keep lawless bank robbers in line.'' "No time. I have enough trouble keeping you in line.

Duty is ours; consequences are God's.