I can understand the allure of a venerable Big Six imprint, of a shot at the New York Times list, of a publisher-sponsored book tour, of seeing your hardbacks in bookstores and your paperbacks in supermarkets.

The City. Can't you hear it? People. Machines. Even thoughts so thick your bones feel it and your ear almost catches it.

The post office actually achieves its mission. I wish we could say the same of the CIA.

The National Surveillance State doesn't want anyone to be able to communicate without the authorities being able to monitor that communication.

Overall, one of the things that excites me most about self-publishing is that the highest-value use of my time in promoting the books will be found in writing more of them.

Anger, and the self-righteousness that is both the cause and consequence of anger, tends to be easier on the psyche than personal responsibility.

If the reader cares, I dont think it matters so much whether your hero is in fact an anti-hero.