But while our parting was mutually acceptable and even expedient, still it was painful. And I would like to think it hurt both of us, for I certainly felt it: a wrenching inside, like some small but improbably necessary organ was no longer in there, that it was missing, torn or fallen out. And at the time I'd thought that was the end of it; what was missing was gone forever

Writers are in the entertainment business, and it gives me lots of pleasure to entertain my readers.

The Army was my bread and butter.

I'll know when the ideas aren't fresh anymore. And I'll know when writing doesn't give me a thrill anymore.

The amazing thing now is that most of those so-called critics who were telling me to find my own voice seem to have lost theirs.

We've got one life and the older we get the more we come to realize how short it is.

German readers are much like Brits or Americans: They read for the thrill of it, the occasional shudder down the spine, knowing it's not real - but looking over their shoulders anyway, just in case.