The message is clear: libraries matter. Their solid presence at the heart of our towns sends the proud signal that everyone - whoever they are, whatever their educational background, whatever their age or their needs - is welcome.

Love - true love - is a precious thing. It is painful, uncomfortable, makes fools of us all, but it is what breathes meaning and color and purpose into our lives.

What we leave behind in this life is the memory of who we were and what we did. An imprint, no more.

Too often I am jealous and my jealousy leads me to say things-things-that I regret.

I really like people and I keep friendships. I have people from all parts of my life.

Free and fair access to books - to reading - is a right and one we should fight for.

There’s only one difference between published and unpublished writers, and it is this -- the first group see their work in print on the shelves of Waterstone’s or Tesco or online at Amazon; the second group are yet to have physical evidence of the hours, weeks, years spent fashioning words into their patterns. You are already a writer.