But I've been at writing long enough now to know that every three or four books I have to start a new direction.

Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.

I always loved the verve and vivacity of pulp and I kind of merged it with my own interest in family stories.

Fading light buttered the ridges until shadows licked them clean and they were lost to nightfall.

There's an overlap between social-realist fiction and crime fiction - a sweet spot there.

For a long time, I thought you could remain isolated and survive, and I didn't want to change that. But over the last three or four books, I've become more comfortable with the idea that I'm not really throwing anything away by being a bit more open about my books and life.

I didn't really expect to be coming to the Oscars.