Any Writer Would Rather Dig

There Is Nothing You Can Do About The Past Except Keep It There.

The Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche Once Wrote That When You Look Into The Darkness Of The Abyss The Abyss Looks Into You. Probably No Other Line Or Thought More Inspires Or Informs My Work.

Los Angeles Was The Kind Of Place Where Everybody Was From Somewhere Else And Nobody Really Droppped Anchor. It Was A Transient Place. People Drawn By The Dream, People Running From The Nightmare. Twelve Million People And All Of Them Ready To Make A Break For It If Necessary. Figuratively, Literally, Metaphorically -- Any Way You Want To Look At It -- Everbody In L.a. Keeps A Bag Packed. Just In Case.

To Write More From Memory And To Be More Creative - I Think - Because I Am Still Writing About Los Angeles But I Can't Walk Out My Door And Immediately Drive To Places I Am Writing About. So I Think It Has Been A Very Good Change For Me After 11 Books To Start Writing This Way.

Don't Go Growing A Conscience On Me," I Said. "i've Been Down That Road. It Doesn't Lead You To Anything Good.