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. ”