Individual words, sounds, squiggles on paper with no meanings other than those with which our imagination can clothe them.

There is much unexplained in the world. It behooves us to be wary at all times. Just when you think you've got the hang of it, along comes string theory, collateralized debt obligations or Björk's new album, and bam! You're as confused as you were when you first started.

Every book should have a romance.

People who read my books have an open mind when it comes to new, bizarre, interesting and exciting ideas.

For an author just starting out, you've got to deliver the goods every year or sooner or people will forget you or you will lose momentum. There is a contract that exists between author and reader.

I could almost see common sense and denial fighting away at each other within her. In the end, denial won, as it so often does.

"Edward, Edward," he said with a patronising smile, "there are no unanswered questions of any relevance. Every question that we need to ask has been answered fully. If you can't find the correct answer then you are obviously asking the wrong question."