I do try to live every day as if it were my last, and it has worked for me so far.

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

I thought it must be desperate to be old. To wake up in the morning and remember that you were ancient - and so behave that way. I thought old people were full of aches and pains and horrible illnesses.

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

I had a very happy childhood, which is unsuitable if you're going to be an Irish writer.

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

Everybody is a hero in their own story if you just look.