I love the friendly faces of old sorrows

Commercial fiction writing – where my bread is buttered – is fairly straightforward. The writing is simply efficiency and story. The more you have of one the less you need of the other.

My mother describes me as 'a real hero . . . just like your grandfather'. But I do not know what to do with this accolade for her son, other than let her have moment, or it helps her back here.

The most terrifying thing in my life is a blank sheet of paper.

We believe firmly that Communism internally and externally can and must be fought without resort to the Communist tactics of the suppression of all individual freedom.

Not all books are for all people. We read for different reasons.

We know grooming is important for people. To get their hair done, to get makeup and things like that - that makes a person feel better.

We sell books, other people sell shoes. What's the difference? Publishing isn't the highest art.

If there is something to steal, I steal it.

I do not regret the things I've done, but those I did not do.

Estragon: I'm like that. Either I forget right away or I never forget.