I do write long, long character notes - family background, history, details of appearance - much more than will ever appear in the novel. I think this is what lifts a book from that early calculated, artificial stage.

But I don't think people take bad advice. They've got intuition too, you know. In fact I'd be surprised if they take any advice at all.

People always talked about a mother's uncanny ability to read her children, but that was nothing compared to how children could read their mothers.

I think I was born with the impression that what happened in books was much more reasonable, and interesting, and real, in some ways, than what happened in life.

In real life I avoid all parties altogether, but on paper I can mingle with the best of them

I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get

Smells could bring a person back clearer than pictures even could.