I can’t allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.

I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.

But he could never be a made guy himself because of his tainted blood, some Sunset Park Puerto Rican on his father’s side, even though he was raised Italian. Chili didn’t care to be made...

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.

I started out of course with Hemingway when I learned how to write. Until I realized Hemingway doesn’t have a sense of humor. He never has anything funny in his stories.

I’m very much aware in the writing of dialogue, or even in the narrative too, of a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm with it … Interviewers have said, you like jazz, don’t you?...

There are cities that get by on their good looks, offer climate and scenery, views of mountains or oceans, rockbound or with palm trees; and there are cities like Detroit that have to work for...

Ernesto Palmer got the name Chili originally because he was hot-tempered as a kid…Now he was Chili, Tommy Carlo said, because he had chilled down and didn’t need the hot temper. All he had to...

And she thought if you don’t have the desire to fight or wait for something there’s no reason for being on earth.

The shots left a hard ringing sound within the closeness of the brick walls. Terry held the pistol at arm’s length on a level with his eyes–the Russian Tokarev resembling an old-model Colt .45, big...

Psychopaths… people who know the differences between right and wrong, but don’t give a shit. That’s what most of my characters are like.