Nobody reads a book to get to the middle.

If the public likes you, you're good. Shakespeare was a common, down-to-earth writer in his day.

Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.

I have no fans. You know what I got? Customers. And customers are your friends.

The first page sells this book. The last page sells your next book.

Now I'm not an author, I'm a writer, that's all I am.

Critics themselves, they used to tear me up.