192 Quotes by James Ellroy

As critical acclaim and response has built up, every interview I give is a chance to puncture the myth I’ve created about my work and refine it.

They were heedless of the fact that they’d gain more converts if they just stopped talking.

Breuning drove. Dudley sat up front Carlisle sat in back, with three sawed-off shotguns.

I work within the framework of a very concerted, purely driven Protestant Christian mindset. I had dark early circumstances. I went inward. I have a sturdy will. I have a big heart. I’m a decent guy. And I have a great gift. It’s blunted me to the world in many ways.

I have insane curiosity as to what happened in all these events. I will never know. I’m not a researcher. I don’t possess that kind of mind. I have a researcher who compiles the fact sheets and chronologies that allow me to write these big books of mine.

There are a lot of Ellroy lifts, man. This guy went to school. But then there’s a willful thing that comes over me – God gives it to me – where I go, “That’s real nice, let’s just go home, pat yourself on the back, good dog, good dog, and wake up in the morning and go to work.”

I’m way past the idea of using ideology or political view as a gauge of human character. I simply don’t believe it. And many people, I tend to think most people, feel that way. Since I don’t have to worry about it, I’m happy.

I’ve been tremendously moved by a bunch of odd books. Ross McDonald is very important to me. I love the Lew Archer books.

I settled in to watch a Dragnet rerun. I bought the judge in four of Jack Webb’s drunk-driving beefs. I shtupped Jack’s ex-wife, soaring songstress Julie London.