If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you can vicariously through a book.

I think virgins are far more interesting to write about. If we've been around the block a few times, we know what to expect. Not so with virgins.

The best person to write for is yourself—and what better place to start than in a journal.

A controlling man, surely a mythical creature?

People are talking about sex. They're talking about sex with their husbands. They're talking about sex with their girlfriends. They're talking about sex with their partners. And because of all of this communication, women are having much more intimate relationships, which is fantastic.

I don't think [Fifty Shades of Grey is] a model for anything. Except maybe in bed.

It's the fantasy of first love. If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you can vicariously through a book. And it is such a fantasy. It takes you away from doing the dishes and the laundry. I think of this as a contemporary romance rather than erotic fiction.