Often it's the latest novel that I've written that is my favourite. I'd been dreaming it for so long, living and breathing its story so that when it finally arrives as a newly published book, smelling wonderful and fresh out of the box, there is nothing like it.

Don't worry about writing a book or getting famous or making money. Just lead an interesting life.

Perhaps it is partly that we need to love books ourselves as parents, grandparents and teachers in order to pass on that passion for stories to our children. It's not about testing and reading schemes, but about loving stories and passing on that passion to our children.

There's a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be?

Live an interesting life. Meet people. Read a lot and widely, learn from the great writers

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.

Unless you can be in a place yourself and go through the subject of your story yourself, the next best thing is not to read a book about it, or see a movie about it, it's to talk to the people who've been there.