I'm an escapist kind of writer.

After my hip operation, I had to cut out butter, which I loved, and salt. I no longer eat desserts with lots of cream, and I've cut right back on alcohol.

I have been lucky enough to travel a lot, meet great people in many lands. I have liked almost everyone I met along the way.

I once got a huge, expensive flower arrangement from a person I didn't like, who sent it out of pure guilt. It had a hideous bird-of-paradise in the middle, and I thought it would never fade and die. I hated it.

I'm getting better, happier, and nicer as I grow older, so I would be terrific in a couple of hundred years time.

I've seen a lot of people buy my books and then fall asleep on the plane soon afterwards.

I'm an escapist kind of writer.