My view of an excellent novel was probably set in the golden age of fiction in the 19th century: narrative, character and voice are of equal importance.

I've experienced huge kindness here, a great welcome and some very generous reviews without the snide social edge I often suffer from at home. I'm not patronized here either, which I much appreciate!

My view of an excellent novel was probably set in the golden age of fiction in the 19th century: narrative, character and voice are of equal importance.

You can't love a library of e-books. You can't furnish a room with e-books.

Out of respect to writers, you have to read the book in the way in which the author visualised it going out into the world.

I always love writing about children.

You can change yourself and you can change the situation but you absolutely cannot change other people. Only they can do that.