Quotes from Michael Connelly

It wasn't a decision to become a writer. I wanted to become a writer of crime fiction. I was very specific.

I first discovered Tampa in my 20s when I met my wife, who was living there, and I instantly fell in love with the city. It's somewhere between a big city and small town, so you get the feeling of both.

I admit my reading time is limited because I can write in the situations and places where people usually read. But reading is the fuel - it's inspiring - so I try to keep the tank full. What happens most of the time is I binge read. I will put aside a day or two to do nothing but read.

Deep in my heart it still feels like I'm a journalist even though I haven't worked for a paper and carried a press pass for 14 years.

I used to tape over the top corner of my computer screen so I couldn't see what time it was. I like the idea that I'm just with the words and not knowing what's going on with the world, when it's lunch or dinner.

As a writer, you look for inspiration wherever you can get it.

Being a journalist always makes you a quick study of wherever you're at. You're out all the time and seeing places that normally you wouldn't get to see. It gives you an unusual level of insight into any place.

I think there'd be huge losses if there weren't newspapers. I know everything's shifting to the Internet and some people would say, 'News is news, what you're talking about is a change of consumption, not the product that's out there.' But I think there is a change.

As far as characters in fiction that I really admire - it's pretty strong to say you would wish that you had created another character - but I'll throw out Will Graham, the protagonist in 'Red Dragon,' a book I've read several times.

When I was at a newspaper, I knew what an opportunity that was, and I religiously protected my time on the cop beat.

I'm one hundred percent Irish, and I'm very proud that I'm Irish American, though I don't know exactly where my ancestors came from. I just know County Cork.

In 'Blood Work,' they made choices I wouldn't have made, but I'm not a filmmaker. I took the money, and they told the story.

I was fired as an actor on 'Bosch.'

Eight to ten years in a patrol car? I didn't have that in me.

I got lucky, and the first book, 'The Black Echo,' got published.

I don't think anyone will believe me, but I've never been pressured by a publisher to churn out a book.

What is overriding that and most important is that readers generally are interested in a good character. They might be more comfortable with Harry because they think they know him, but they always seem willing to give somebody new a chance.

In the real world, some defense lawyers never have an innocent client in their whole career.

I write puzzles and mysteries. Nothing too highfalutin.

We want our government to protect us, to make sure something like 9/11 never happens again. We quickly moved to give law enforcement more power to do this. But that now begs the question, did we move to fast? Did we give too much power away? I don't have the answer.

I think there's a general misconception that anything written quickly lacks quality, and I don't believe that.

I want people to think I'm a creative genius.

The fulfillment I get from a good day of writing is addictive and will always bring me back the next day.

I not only read Raymond Chandler but read all the crime fiction classics. I was hooked.