A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places he will be more men, but two is enough for now.

To me, a book is a book, an electronic device is not, and love of books was the reason I started writing.

There's nothing like work to take your mind off your worries.

I'm very much aware in the writing of dialogue, or even in the narrative too, of a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm with it … Interviewers have said, you like jazz, don’t you? Because we can hear it in your writing. And I thought that was a compliment.

I don't believe in writer's block or waiting for inspiration. If you're a writer, you sit down and write.

The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

I've quit writing screenplay [adaptations]. It's too much work. I don't look at writing a novel as work, because I only have to please myself. I have a good time sitting here by myself, thinking up situations and characters, getting them to talk - it's so satisfying. But screenwriting's different. You might think you're writing for yourself, but there are too many other people to please.