We're being subject to incredible amounts of surveillance, the police are taking on draconian powers and violating our rights. I think this attempt to protect ourselves is ultimately going to founder because people don't like living inside prisons.

I am not much of a researcher as a novelist; I write mainly from experience.

When terrorism strikes, divisive anger is a natural response.

For many people, there is an almost power to be found in prayer.

When we aren't collectively imagining hopeful futures, then the way things are going almost invariably seems negative and frightening.

Only in novels can we take another human being into our head and create something jointly.

When the uncertain future becomes the past, the past in turn becomes uncertain.