I was asked by an editor to consider writing something about an American inventor. I asked him if he knew who invented the computer. He said he didn't. In that case, I told him, I should write a book about John Vincent Atanasoff.

A horse herd was, in its very essence, the manifestation of the expression 'It's always something.

I have reared, or helped to rear, five children and the scariest bit, bar none, is the learning to drive part. It has filled me with anxiety not only about the children, but also about my former self and my friends.

I was an only child. I've known only children. From this experience, I do believe that the children should outnumber the parents.

A theory of creativity is actually just a metaphor. A pool of ideas, a well of memories, a voice.

As soon as you bring up money, I notice, conversation gets sociological, then political, then moral.

There weren't too many books by women that were taught in school, so I read those on my own, and the books I read were as accessible as the ones we were reading in school.