Every parent has those moments where they look at their child and think, 'There's a demon in those eyes and no one can see it but me!

I needed to do a lot of saying no. I had a lot of [interest] from people who I just didn't think were quite right for it. And I didn't want a bad film to be made of the book, either a sentimental one or a creepy one, so I did a lot of, "No thank you." Then when the right filmmaker came along, yes, I suppose I presented myself very much as wanting to be the writer.

What's crucial about being an executive producer is that you stay in the loop, information-wise. They have to share all their major decisions with you.

Writers should be applauded for their ability to make things up.

I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened.

Identity politics are wearisome; you don't want to go on speaking for any one group as a writer.

We used to call it her Cinderella complex, because often when she had agreed to go out in the evening she would be seized by panic and announce that she had nothing to wear.