Of course I wanted children. Bright, gorgeous, loving children. I could almost see them.

When I was younger, I avoided exercise or anything strenuous. I didn't even enjoy walking. As I got older, I spent so much time marking books or sitting at a desk writing that there was no room for exercise - not that I would have bothered anyway.

I have great family and good friends; the stories I told became popular, and people all over the world bought them.

Happiness is knowing and appreciating what you've got. I am very, very, very grateful for what, to me, is dead easy.

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

Because I saw my parents relaxing in armchairs and reading and liking it, I thought it was a peaceful grown-up thing to do, and I still think that.

The whole art of life is knowing the right time to say things.