I couldn't have children, so that's the bad side. But compared to everything else I have, it's not all that terribly bad. I count my winners rather than my losers.

If you woke up each morning, and immediately dwelt on your ills, what sort of a day could you look forward to?

I'm an escapist kind of writer.

I remember watching myself on video and being so disappointed with myself because I was constantly moving around the place and laughing. I thought, 'I must be so much louder than I think I am. From inside it feels fine.'

In Ireland every place you visit and every person you meet has a story. And they love to tell you their stories. Everyone is interested in everything; in a land of storytellers, you will never be bored.

My brother married young, and his is the best marriage I know.

Never mind money; the gifts of time and skill call into being the richest marketplace in the world.