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.

I'm falling into disrepair

...if you catalogue grudges, anything looks bad.

I hated childhood, and spent it sitting behind a book waiting for adulthood to arrive.

...it's closeness that does you in. Never get too close to people, son.

My family can always tell when I'm well into a novel because the meals get very crummy.