There's a very fine line between pleasure and pain. They are two sides of the same coin, one not existing without the other.

Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me. Perhaps I've spent too long in the company of my literary romantic heroes, and consequently my ideals and expectations are far too high.

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

A controlling man, surely a mythical creature?

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.

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.

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