Cats, I always think, only jump into your lap to check if you are cold enough, yet, to eat.

The only way to write a book, I’m fond of telling people, is to actually write a book. That’s how you write a book.

I find being Irish quite a wearing thing. It takes so much work because it is a social construction. People think you are going to be this, this, and this.

A novel is written not to be judged, but experienced.

When I'm working, I'm not so much disciplined as obsessive. I have this feeling that I need to clear everything away and get this down.

Having kids is very difficult to do on your own, and it's really crazy difficult to think you're doing it as a team and to find out that you're not actually part of a team.

I was raised in a very old fashioned Ireland where women were reared to be lovely.