These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger that he will plunge through.

…and Emma felt another small portion of her soul fall away.

…surprised all over again at how very comforting very bad food can be.

I think probably I'm quite sentimental; I like big emotional stories, I like being moved by things, but I think I'm very embarrassed by sentiment. I'm very embarrassed by corniness.

Most of the books and films I love walk a knife edge between romance and cynicism, and I wanted 'One Day' to stay on that line. I wanted it to be moving, but without being manipulative.

David Holdaway was my stage name. I was an actor for about eight years in the '90s. I had to change my name because there was another David Nicholls, and I thought if I changed it to my mother's name, she'd be touched.

Read a book at the right age and it will stay with you for life.