Writers obviously have to bear witness to the harsh face of the age.

As a writer, you have to realize that people want to like the characters, so you have to be careful to keep them involved.

When you allow people to do what they wish, then that is what they do. They stop doing the things they need to do.

I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Gracious acceptance is an art - an art which most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving.... Accepting another person's gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.

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

It seems to me that we're in danger of losing sight of certain basic civic values in society by allowing the growth of a whole generation of people who really have no sense of attachment to society.