Rebecca Eaton has made an enormous contribution to the cultural life of America, and, more than that, she is one of the most fun people I know.

I suppose I have the tastes of someone who teaches at a university in the provinces.

Look at Jane Austen. Her characters derive in a reasonably straight line from fairy tales.

I had a very high opinion of my father's judgement of things and he said, "You better get a job that pays the bills because a writer doesn't make any money. If possible, get a job that allows you to write in your spare time."

I'm absolutely delighted if people think of me as a reliable purveyor of quality period stuff.

I always do like to write love stories, even if they end tragically.

The writer in movies is about as low as you can get and you really are a hired hand. You are paid a lot of money to be treated like dirt.