I also read modern novels - I have just had to read 60 as I am one of the judges for the Orange Fiction Prize.

It's totally mistaken to suppose that an armed escort is going to give a journalist any protection - on the contrary, journalists who turn up surrounded by armed personnel are just turning themselves into targets and in even worse danger.

I wrote in the book very specifically what I wanted to write about, period, and left it at.

Having had loving people who brought me up, and then I find another set of people. That really is a double blessing.

I don't want to be involved in endless media gossip.

Up until about 12 years ago we never, ever, wore flak jacket or helmets but now the nastiness has got worse.

In any war, there is a concealment of certain kinds of setbacks because it's propaganda for the enemy.