When you start, the world of publishing seems like a great cathedral citadel of talent, resisting attempts to let you inside. It isn't like that at all. It may be more difficult now, and take longer than when I started to write, but there's a great, empty warehouse out there looking for simple talent.

My attitude is that if anybody of any age wants to read a book, let them, but I do think that no child would want to read Boneland.

I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.

Possessive parents rarely live long enough to see the fruits of their selfishness.

... I had never given much credence to the phenomenon of "writer's block". I was more inclined to think of it as "writer's impatience", and to follow Arthur Koestler's dictum: "Soak; and wait.

I wish Monkeys could Skype. Maybe one day.

When you start, the world of publishing seems like a great cathedral citadel of talent, resisting attempts to let you inside. It isn't like that at all. It may be more difficult now, and take longer than when I started to write, but there's a great, empty warehouse out there looking for simple talent.