It was a sudden inspiration. But inspiration never came without a reason.

Many Scandinavian writers who had made their name in literary fiction felt they wanted to have a go at the crime novel to show they could compete with the best. If Salman Rushdie had been Norwegian, he would definitely have written at least one thriller.

Love surrounds you like steam in the shower. You can't see the individual drops, but you get warm. And wet. And clean.

When you're an established name, you know that a children's book will have a pretty good chance of getting picked up. Like Madonna. It's not that I had this great idea. Actually, in my case, it was a great idea.

Everything you do leaves traces, doesn't it. The life you've lived is written all over you, for those who can read.

Those golden minutes before you are completely awake, when your mind is just drifting, you have no censorship; you are ready to develop any kind of idea. That's when I come up with the best and worst ideas. That is the privilege of being a writer - that you can stay in bed for an hour in the morning and it's work time.

I was a really bad taxi driver. I only collided twice but it was one time too much.