The old Victorian laws against homosexuality were still on the statute books until the early 1990s. As a gay man living in Ireland, I and people like me found it easy to feel less than citizens.

I did think of becoming a priest quite late on, when other boys were thinking of knocking over fences and going out with girls. I would have made a very good bishop: nice housekeeper, nice clothes - god, the clothes.

Writer's block! It doesn't exist. You just long for ideas to go away so you have an idea of peace.

She was lonely without Blunt, but she was lonelier at the idea that the world went on as though she had not loved him.

It really matters to writers to find and treasure readers, all the more when they're on the other side of the world.

I suppose one should have an integrated personality, but I've never really seen the point.

It is important to find a publisher and equally important not to be noticed until your third or fourth book.