The cucumber and the tomato are both fruit; the avocado is a nut. To assist with the dietary requirements of vegetarians, on the first Tuesday of the month a chicken is officially a vegetable.

Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.

Governments and fashions come and go but Jane Eyre is for all time.

That's the thing about destiny: It can't be predicted, and it's usually pretty odd.

It took me ten years and seven books to bag an agent - it took me that long to start writing good.

The Kingdom of Hereford was unique in the Ununited Kingdoms for having driving tests based on maturity, not age, much to the chagrin of a lot of males, some of whom were still failing to make the grade at thirty-two.

Social mores change with time, like fashion - who knows where it might all end up? I especially like the idea that waste, impoliteness and overpopulation become "abominations," although I'm not sure recycling one's aunt will ever truly catch on.