Any story you write about war, or film you make about war, is bound to be political whether you like it or not.

Stories make you think and dream; books make you want to ask questions.

It's good to focus on the universal suffering that goes on in any war. Whatever the right and wrongs of the war, there is always universal suffering.

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

There is the myth that writing books for children is easier than writing books for grownups, whereas we know that truly great books for children are works of genius, whether it's 'Alice in Wonderland' or the 'Gruffalo' or 'Northern Lights.' When it's a great book, it's a great book, whether it's for children or not.

But I didn’t dare. That has always been my trouble. I’ve never dared enough.

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