There's a mouse in here with me. He's sitting there in the light of the lamp, looking up at me. He seems as surprised to see me as I am to see him. There he goes. I can hear him still, scurrying about somewhere under the hayrick. I think he's gone now. I hope he comes back. I miss him already.

Books that kids read should be about what is going on in the world.

I got married young, far too young, but it is fine. We are still married 48 years later. I got married at 19.

Characters are the key to a good book. It took me several novels to comprehend that.

We all know that the great memories of our childhood are the little triumphs - it doesn't really matter whether that was in writing, art, on the hockey field or on the football field. It's something that makes you feel - 'I can do this stuff'.

Being his real brother I could feel I live in his shadows, but I never have and I do not now. I live in his glow.

Blind terror drove me on, with my flying stirrups whipping me into a frenzy. With no rider to carry I reached the kneeling riflemen first and they scattered as I came upon them.