We live in a society now where the sexual taboo for children has really passed by the wayside. Any nineyear-old can go into a 7-11 and check out the Playmate of the Month, but you don't want your kids to know about death. You don't want your kids to know about disfigurement. You don't want 'em to know about creepy things because it might warp their little minds.

Rage-the biggest, truest rage of her adult life-had invaded her like a fever, but it wasn't like any fever she had known previously. It circulated like weird serum, cold on the right side of her body, then hot on the left, where her heart was. It seemed to come nowhere near her head, which remained clear.

Everything's a lot tougher when it's for real. That's when you choke. When it's for real.

He removed his unvaluable valuables and dumped his shirt, pants, and skivvies into a letter slot.

But it's hard for a man to give up all his pleasures, even when they don't pleasure him no more.

A cowardly leader is the most dangerous of men.

I don't spend the day writing. I'll maybe write fresh copy for two hours, and then I'll go back and revise some of it and print what I like and then turn it off.