The 1950s to me is darkness, hidden history, perversion behind most doors waiting to creep out. The 1950s to most people is kitsch and Mickey Mouse watches and all this intolerable stuff.

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.

Secrets are a responsibility and a painfully taxing one at that.

Courtiers don't take wagers against the king's skill. There is a deadly danger of winning

The best time to expand is when people are asleep at the wheel.

Homogeneity is much to be admired - in milk, for instance - but not for parties.

Church of painful love - unfulfilled,unrequited & unattained

What I really believe is that there are no coincidences anymore.

It has become dramatically clear that the foundation of corporate integrity is personal integrity.

I've always wanted to act and I grew up a little on film sets when my dad was working as an actor.

How could I leave Prim, who is the only person in the world I’m certain I love?

O, Winter! Put away thy snowy pride; O, Spring! Neglect the cowslip and the bell; O, Summer! Throw thy pears and plums aside; O, Autumn! Bid the grape with poison swell.