Coincidence exists, but believing in it never did me any good.

For David Parker and Daniel Parker, with the respect and admiration of their father, who grew up with them.

College had little effect on me. I'd have been the same writer if I'd gone to MIT, except I'd have flunked out sooner.

I took my .38 out and looked to see that there were bullets in all the proper places. I knew there would be, but it did no harm to be careful. And I'd seen Clint Eastwood do it once in the movies.

Teaching is too strong a word for whatever it was I did at Northeastern University

Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.

This was 1954, friends. The girls' dorm was off limits. Even to girls, I think.