Being in one's 50s is a powerful time.

Perfect objectivity is always impossible, no matter who writes a person's biography.

Ive really written my books for my husband and our family. Theyve brought us closer together by allowing us to discuss things that were unspoken for so long.

There was a special challenge in describing the awful childhood of a person who happens to be my own husband. It was very painful at times, for both of us.

There is a probably natural and learned reticence with myself talking about my early life.

I grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, an arid kind of place, but every day I took the ferry across the harbour to get to school. I'd watch the ships coming in and going out.

It is one thing to go on stage and be funny or be in a good place in your career, but for a woman, actually facing the elements in a physical way is a very powerful thing.