That's what sailing is, a dance, and your partner is the sea. And with the sea you never take liberties. You ask her, you don't tell her. You have to remember always that she's the leader, not you. You and your boat are dancing to her tune.

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'.

Wherever my story takes me, however dark and difficult the theme, there is always some hope and redemption, not because readers like happy endings, but because I am an optimist at heart.

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

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

There's room for all sorts of magic and miracles in this world - that's what I think.

What's really good is that there are people making stories and writing them and the vast majority never see the light of day and it doesn't matter a fig.