Alan King

When I was a kid, I used to send away for those ventriloquist kits on the back of comic books.

Banks have a new image. Now you have 'a friend,' your friendly banker. If the banks are so friendly, how come they chain down the pens?

Smoked salmon is for dinner. Belly lox is for breakfast. Don't get that mixed up.

Most detective story readers are an educated audience and know there are only a certain number of plots. The interest lies in what the writer does with them.

I have always had confidence in my own ability.

I'm a big action junkie. I grew up on the '80s action movies - the bad ones and the good ones.