ROBERT ASPRIN

Just a little off the top!"- A. Boleyn

Don't pick up hitchhikers!"- D. Adams

When things are at their blackest, I say to myself, 'Cheer up, things could be worse.' And sure enough, they get worse.

C'mon kid. Think a minute, even if it hurts.

In times of crisis, it is of the utmost importance that one does not lose her head. Marie Antoinette

When old friends get together, everything else fades to insignificance."- War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death

I've had a five- or six-year down-spell as a writer, and now that most of the other contracts are cleared or down to the last book, I have a chance to do what I want to do - specifically, something set in New Orleans.

Numerical superiority is of no consequence. In battle, victory will go to the best tactician."- G. A. Custer

Invariably it turns out to be who you've been reading in the last couple of weeks, and two hours or two days [on favourite authors

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall take flack from both sides."- Unofficial UN Motto

The basic story for the opener is that word came through the bar that someone got knifed and killed up on the Moon Walk. It turns out to be one of the quarter regulars that everybody knows, including Maestro and Bone.

It's interesting that instead of having to get tighter and more restricted for a collaboration, strangely enough, from the beginning, we've actually been more confident that we could handle this.

Between you and me, I think that may be one of the things that will help with the collaboration, because there are things Eric thinks I'm moving too quickly on, and there are things I think he's dragging out. When it gets to the editor they can arbitrate.

New Orleans life is such a night life. The thing that comes up very often is that our day essentially doesn't start until midnight or 2 in the morning.

Writing that's not working for a living.

We're kidding on that. One of the things I insisted upon when we went into this project was that we are full partners, going fifty-fifty, both on the money and on the say of what's going on with the books.

Invariably it turns out to be who you've been reading in the last couple of weeks, and two hours or two days [on favourite authors

I've had a five- or six-year down-spell as a writer, and now that most of the other contracts are cleared or down to the last book, I have a chance to do what I want to do - specifically, something set in New Orleans.

Don't pick up hitchhikers!"- D. Adams

I am not a slow writer, I am not a fast writer . . . I am a half-fast writer.

To Serve and Protect..."- Traditional Motto of Protection Rackets

C'mon kid. Think a minute, even if it hurts.

Ever since I first visited New Orleans back in '89, I've been intrigued by the French Quarter. I always wanted to set something in the Quarter, whether it was historic or contemporary. Unfortunately, I was always tied up with previous commitments - earlier multiple contracts - and could not get a crack at it.

Numerical superiority is of no consequence. In battle, victory will go to the best tactician."- G. A. Custer

When old friends get together, everything else fades to insignificance."- War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death

In times of crisis, it is of the utmost importance that one does not lose her head. Marie Antoinette

Just a little off the top!"- A. Boleyn

When things are at their blackest, I say to myself, 'Cheer up, things could be worse.' And sure enough, they get worse.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall take flack from both sides."- Unofficial UN Motto