In the U.S., Superman or Batman or something, the law-enforcement people, are the most famous comic characters. Americans have a respect, I think, for badges and a respect for uniforms. I think that's, in some ways, quite a nice thing, but it can be dangerous, too, because it can obviously be abused.

It's been a very interesting exercise as a writer - writing a little family group, like The Incredibles or The Simpsons or something like that, and setting it in a big Star Wars-type setting. It's been really fun, definitely different from the kind of thing I normally do.

I always think it's a mistake when you actually have to set books aside and actually sit down and research something. I always think they've got to come from within.

The one thing we can all relate to is family, and family has its traumas sometimes. Sometimes things don't go well for people. Sometimes things are tough. So everybody kind of knows someone who's been in this situation before, and I think that's what makes it work.

The trick was really finding the appropriate publisher for each of the projects I'd devised.

When you expect the best from people, you will often see more in them than they see in themselves.

I think exactly the same qualities as men [women role model needs], exactly the same, which is kindness, courage and intelligence.