All writers are liars. They twist events to suit themselves. They make use of their own tragedies to make a better story... They are terrible people.

I hope in my books I help children to see their strengths, and show them I have some idea of what they may occasionally be going through. Especially at tricky moments when it is easier to go back and evade things rather than go forwards and confront them.

I grew up on a suburban street with lace curtains and dull neighbours, so I made up stories to tell my friend, in which they became serial killers and burglars. She told her mother, who then told mine.

I like writing for children. It seems to me that most people underestimate their understanding and the strength of their feelings and in my books for them I try to put this right.

I dislike the word 'victim.' I dislike being told that I 'lost' my husband - as if I had idly abandoned you by the side of the railway track like an unwanted pair of old shoes.

One good reason for writing novels based on your life is that you have something to read in old age when you've forgotten what happened.

I've never found it made the slightest difference being a woman - though there is a sort of feeling that as you get older you're not so interesting.