You say to yourself: 'What could people, in all these countries, find in my books?' and yet I think we're all the same, anywhere. Everybody is a hero or a dramatic person in their own story if you just know where to look.

I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks.

We have to make our own happiness, and we have to make our own decisions and play the hand that is dealt to us.

I have an irregular heartbeat, so that means a fair amount of medication - and I have blood pressure pills, too, but no vitamins or supplements.

You're much more believable if you talk in your own voice.

If I see Marian Keyes' books or Patricia Scanlan's books given more prominence than mine in the bookstore, I'll move mine to the front. I've told them I do this, and they've confessed to doing the same thing to me.

I've had a good life, full of more success and happiness than I ever expected.