To me, there's nothing on earth other than women. It's why I get out of bed every morning.

Anybody who doesn't know that politics is crime has got a few screws loose.

I would like to provoke ambiguous responses in my readers.

Tell me anything. Tell me everything. Revoke our time apart. Love me fierce in danger.

L.A.: Come on vacation, go home on probation.

Cats gotta scratch. Dogs gotta bite. I gotta write.

I am a writer. I could not afford to take 15 months off from my writing career to play detective.

Some men get the world, some men get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona. You're in with the former, but my God I don't envy the blood on your conscience.

I've been tremendously moved by a bunch of odd books. Ross McDonald is very important to me. I love the Lew Archer books.

I love thinking about American history, thinking about LA history. I love brooding on crime.

I learn things late-and only the hard way.

You are the only author of your book that matters.

I'm a good person," I said, "because I know what good people are supposed to act like, and I copy them.

The power of art can open our minds.

No regrets, only choices.

Never underestimate the power of the mind to disempower.

So in every sense, from an independent artist to a major label artist, you just have to have great product, great faith and great people, they all go together.

We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter the defeat, so that we can know who we are.

I am conquered less by fortune than by the egotism and ingratitude of my companions in arms.

I believe that when you find problems, you should also find solutions.

If I have one vanity wish, it would be to direct. It's the only thing I haven't done yet that I would like to.