Punctuation is a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.

Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop.

I do needlepoint from kits. I give them as gifts to people in the form of cushion covers and they are often speechless with horror.

One of the things that all authors of fiction must learn to judge is whether - and in what detail - to describe the face of a character.

Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.

Don't pessimism and caution naturally go hand in hand?

What I have always liked about Brighton is its impersonality. Since the 18th century, people have come, used the place and gone home again.