You can't lay down laws for what people think and hope.

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 look placid, you see, that's why people think I'm fine. Inside I worry a lot.

I have no idea whether what I write will be of the remotest interest to anyone else. Some mornings when I read what I wrote the previous day I think it's fairly entertaining; other times I think it's pure rubbish. The main thing is not to take any notice, not to be elated or upset, just keep going.

I think I'm brave because I've made decisions based - I hope not entirely selfishly - on what I think is right for me to do next.

She put her head down on the table and cried all the tears that she knew she should have cried in the past year and a half. But they weren't ready then, they were now.

All I ever wanted to do is to write stories that people will enjoy and feel at home with.