For me books have always been an incredibly solid part of my life, both as escapism and simply as resource.

Books aren't like broccoli. You don't have to eat it because it's good for you. Books drag you in because they are fascinating.

Often the true hero and heroines of my books are the houses, the places, the communities where people find a home.

I'd love to see a new form of social security ... everyone taught how to grow their own; fruit and nut trees planted along every street, parks planted out to edibles, every high rise with a roof garden, every school with at least one fruit tree for every kid enrolled.

I've always found the world is the most extraordinarily fascinating place and the more data you get, the more you can actually put pieces into this jigsaw.

Death had ruled my life till I met Lady Dance. Her dance had set me free.

The song and dance didn't stop us dying. It just stopped the fear of death swallowing us up while we were still alive.