Writing detective stories is about writing light literature, for entertainment. It isn't primarily a question of writing propaganda or classical literature.
“Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.”
“I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young. Every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance hall. I was at every dance, every night club, listened to every band that came through, because in those days we didn't have MTV, we didn't have television.”