Andrew Vachss

I didn't start out angry. I started out a young man wanting adventure.

Building a mechanical device for its appearance is like putting lace on a bowling ball.

A kid in an abusive home has far fewer rights than any POW. There is no Geneva Convention for kids.

Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.

I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court those kids the 'child protective system' had missed when it had the chance.

Ask any experienced defense lawyer: the real risks are for an accused person who is innocent. A guilty defendant has many more options available.

Without question, I've either got to be a writer, or I fail.

If I ever stopped being angry, I couldn't write anymore. How could I?

I hate bullies. I hate them. I'm not good enough with words to describe how much I hate them.

The third person narrator, instead of being omniscient, is like a constantly running surveillance tape.

The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie.

My life is triage.