I'm the most translated writer in the world, behind Lenin, Tolstoy, Gorki and Jules Verne. And they're all dead.

I wrote the original Mike Hammer as a comic, Mike Danger.

Those big-shot writers ... could never dig the fact that there are more salted peanuts consumed than caviar.

I'm actually a softie. Tough guys get killed too early... I've got a full head of hair and don't wear eyeglasses.

Inspiration is an empty bank account.

I know an awful lot of Hollywood people, who are so self-important, I can't understand it.

Critics themselves, they used to tear me up.