Singing has never been particularly easy for me.

If you're tearing around in a panic about something, then it puts everyone else in a panic as well.

When adversity hits, go out and learn something.

And I think as long as a song has beautiful lyrics, I'm so happy.

In a way I do hate the process of writing. It's like learning a role where you never think you're going to be able to conquer it when you start and it just takes enough focus and narrowing and getting enthusiastic and not losing it and so on. It's never good enough, but you aim for something and you hope it comes somewhat close. But it is a pleasure once you have written it.

Sometimes I'm so sweet even I can't stand it.

If somebody can act out one of the books as a play, if they can see a play, film, or television show that's related, that can be so stimulating for them. Anything that makes children engage and think - and love what the story is about - can only bring the most enormous rewards.