I almost had an intransigent mental spirit. I always wanted things.

When I was a kid, Eisenhower had been President forever, and all of a sudden, everything in the world was all about Jack Kennedy. I was 12, interested in politics; my father was from Massachusetts, had an accent like Kennedy.

[Raymond] Chandler, I reread him, and there's a lot of bad writing there. I don't think he knew much about people.

I learn things late-and only the hard way.

I like to have fun out there. I work hard, and then I get to cut loose and go out and tour, and I enjoy it. I like to go out and meet the people. I love to sell books.

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

As a kid, I sensed history going on all around me, but the basic thrust of it didn't move me.