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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

As a young child my attention span was, as I remember it, rather short.