My novels come from within me; they are things I feel I want to do.

I like naming characters.

She'd tried her hand at most things, but drew the line at honesty.

If you're from Dublin, for example, chances are you live with your family, if you're lucky enough to, right up to the mid-20s. And most of the people I know, when they finally sort of set off on their own, they don't stray all that far.

Dreaming was only nice while it lasted.

When I was a kid, if you didn't speak Irish, you really wanted to. And you played Gaelic games and you didn't pay any attention to what was happening in the outside world, because really, the - Ireland was the center of the universe. And I don't think that's the case anymore, although, admittedly, it is the center of the universe.

Schools don't really allow failure and yet it's part of any endeavour, not just writing.