How many of us are happy to be exactly where we are at any moment?...only the completely happy think that they are in the correct place.

Manners are the basic building blocks of civil society.

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.

Every novel presents a slice of life. A noir policier for example presents one slice, one that perhaps addresses social dysfunction or some sort of pathology, while mine present a slice that is more upbeat and affirmative.

But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably havent read them.

How many of us are happy to be exactly where we are at any moment?...only the completely happy think that they are in the correct place.

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