I realize that I had always in my heart of hearts planned to write a biography of Marie Antoinette.

I have no plans for a future Jemima Shore mystery, but would write one tomorrow if a good idea came to me.

I love hearing details of writers' craft, as cannibals eat the brains of clever men to get cleverer.

The concentration in my book on Marie Antoinette's childhood and on her family influences. It is surprising how some books actually start with her arrival in France!

Mary Queen of Scots was my first love, and that is always something special.

Of course there's no such thing as a totally objective person, except Almighty God, if she exists.

Her imperturbable self-confidence (Duchesse de Maine) caused Madame de Stael to write that the Duchesse believed in herself the same way she believed in God, without explanation or discussion.