Every writer knows that unless you were born gifted with either supreme confidence or outsize ego, handing in your work holds, in some cases, admitted terror. If that's too strong, at least fairly high anxiety.

Every time someone says, 'You know, we really ought to get together,' if I were really honest, I would ask 'Why?'

The emotions in all true anxiety dreams are next to unbearable.

Its fun for me to go on other folks talk shows. When youve endured the ups and downs and tensions and pitfalls of hosting, being a guest is a piece of angel food.

Electronic devices dislike me. There is never a day when something isn't ailing.

I confess, I do have to remind myself almost daily that there are people on this earth capable of reading, writing, eating and dressing themselves who believe their lives are ruled from billions of miles away, by the stars - and, of course, the planets.

Home schooling as an idea is on a par with home dentistry.