She had found him and was bringing back his thanks. Nor did she forget to mention that he had assured her that she was indeed the most beautiful fairy he had ever set eyes on.

I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this for a year in my imagination.

Didn't books say that too: that there is always price to pay for happiness?

What on earth have you packed in here? Bricks?" asked Mo as he carried Meggie's book-box out of the house. You're the one who says books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them," said Meggie.

You know what they say: When people start burning books they'll soon burn human beings.

And I always read the English translation and always have conversations with my translator, for example about the names. I always have to approve it.

All books are in safe hands with me. They're my children, my inky children, and I look after them well. I keep the sunlight away from their pages, I dust and protect them from hungry hookworms and grubby human fingers.