It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have - otherwise their surviving would have no meaning.

I don't care about age very much.

Procrastination is a lazy man's apology.

In my definition I am a protest writer, with restraint.

When old people speak it is not because of the sweetness of words in our mouths; it is because we see something which you do not see.

Once a novel gets going and I know it is viable, I don't then worry about plot or themes. These things will come in almost automatically because the characters are now pulling the story.

Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly for ever.