I have three older sisters, so we were a reasonably large family and, in general, a happy one.

It would be wonderful to have a guru; it would be like having a social worker or a personal trainer, not that people who had either of these necessarily appreciated the advice they received.

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.

She was made for untidy rooms and rumpled beds.

The good were worthy of note because they battled and that battle was a great story, whereas the evil were evil because of moral laziness, or weakness, and that was ultimately a dull and uninteresting affair.

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

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