In a way, the characters often do take over.

I hope I am not too repetitive. However, coming to terms with death is part of the general human situation.

People can say what they like about the eternal verities, love and truth and so on, but nothing's as eternal as the dishes.

Anyone interested in the world generally can't help being interested in young adult culture - in the music, the bands, the books, the fashions, and the way in which the young adult community develops its own language.

I think I am too interested in my own ideas to copy anyone else's, but I find that other people's imagery, the flow of language in the outside world, games with words, and ideas about relationships are all most important to me.

I was able to work out all sorts of attitudes to style and event and character, all of which affected the way I came to think about my own writing. I believe that all good writers are original.

Every writer has to find their own way into writing.