The original fairy tale was about the youngest sister going into a room in the castle and finding all the bodies of the wives that came before her - she is confronted with truth, thinking about how often we think we know people and we really don't.

I wasn't good company, that was true, and people avoided me, but that was all right. I was too busy dreaming.

I never plot out my novels in terms of the tone of the book. Hopefully, once a story is begun it reveals itself

What I like about fairy tales is the language and the matter-of-fact way of introducing magic, where it's accepted that a fox could talk or a gate could just appear in a wall. I think fairy tales are so psychological.

I never even believed in happiness. I didn't think it existed. Now look at me. I'm ready to believe in just about anything.

Just because something is unspoken doesn't mean that it disappears.

Avoid men who call you Baby, and women who have no friends, and dogs that scratch at their bellies and refuse to lie down at your feet. Wear dark glasses; bathe with lavender oil and cool fresh water. Seek shelter from the sun at noon.