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.

I think people are more in contact now with the consequences of war than they've been for a very long time. And that's what amazes me when sometimes politicians seem to forget their history. They don't look and re-learn about what has happened before. Maybe they haven't got the memory, maybe they're already too young, but you can see how we become puffed up, and how we as a nation rise so quickly if we're not careful.

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 can hate you more, but I'll never love you less.

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

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

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.