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.

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.

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

I do read very, very quickly. I do process data very quickly. And so I write very quickly. And it is embarrassing because there is a conception that the things that you do quickly are not done well. I think that's probably one of the reasons I don't like the idea of prolific.

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

Dance, my darling dance! If you dance then death can't catch you! Nothing bad can touch you! Dance!

I don't read like other people do - back and forth, across the page. I tend to scan a page at a time.