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

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!

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

I'm glad I was never an heiress.

As the Dauphine stepped out of her carriage on to the ceremonial carpet that had been laid down, it was the Duc de Choiseul who was given the privilege of the first salute. Presented with the Duc by Prince Starhemberg, Marie Antoinette exclaimed: 'I shall never forget that you are responsible for my happiness!

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

I think there has been a great deal of valuable revisionism in women's history.