Some writers are more natural public performers than others; personally I find it quite strange giving interviews. But everyone has parts of their job that they like more than others. You can't complain if you get to do what you love doing most of the time, can you?

People always want to identify a writer with their protagonist.

The thing about getting older is that you don't need everything to be possible any more, you just need things to be certain.

She touched his hand for the last time. "Oh, Karim, that we have already done. But always there was a problem between us. How can I explain? I wasn't me, and you weren't you. From the very beginning to the very end, we didn't see things. What we did--we made each other up." p. 382

Writing is a deeply immersive experience. When the words are flying, the house could be burgled and I wouldn’t notice. I have a low boredom threshold and I like intensity – writing is a way of escaping the quotidian.

I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.

I rarely get a moment to myself, but I love the way that my agenda is dictated by the children, not my work.