I just focus on getting the first scene right, with a few lines about the overall plot, and then the book grows organically.

There are many women whose lives would be immeasurably improved by widowhood, but one should not always point that out.

Do not take on a traditionally built person unless you are prepared for a heavyweight bout.

Ritual is a terribly important, binding cement in a society. If we abandon formality and rituals, we're actually weakening the relationships that exist between people that bind.

They're very beautiful, aren't they? Clouds are very beautiful and yet so often we fail to appreciate them properly. We should do that. We should look at them and think about how lucky we are to have them.

Botswana is actually very peaceful. It's democratic. It never was in debt. They've been fortunate, they've had diamonds.

I am capable of being idle.