I fell in love once, if love be that cruelty which takes us straight to the gates of Paradise only to remind us they are closed for ever.

There is a certain seductiveness about dead things. You can ill treat, alter and recolour what's dead. It won’t complain.

Tell me the story, Pew. . . . It was a woman. You always say that. There's always a woman somewhere, child; a princess, a witch, a stepmother, a mermaid, a fairy godmother, or one as wicked as she is beautiful, or as beautiful as she is good. Is that the complete list? Then there is the woman you love. Who's she? That's another story.

We are told not to privilege one story above another. All the stories must be told. Well, maybe that's true, maybe all stories are worth hearing, but not all stories are worth telling.

When I say 'I will be true to you' I am drawing a quiet space beyond the reach of other desires.

I fell in love once, if love be that cruelty which takes us straight to the gates of Paradise only to remind us they are closed for ever.

Everything in writing begins with language. Language begins with listening.