For me,the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out-the writing down of it I always find hard.But I love finishing it,then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers.

Genuinely good people are like that. The sun shines out of them. They warm you right through.

Access to books and the encouragement of the habit of reading: these two things are the first and most necessary steps in education and librarians, teachers and parents all over the country know it. It is our children's right and it is also our best hope and their best hope for the future.

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.

Always write your ideas down however silly or trivial they might seem. Keep a notebook with you at all times.

You know, I really wish now I'd had the nerve to become an actor. Because I'd have been Robert Redford, no question.

A notion for a story is for me a confluence of real events, historical perhaps, or from my own memory to create an exciting fusion.