We were a savage little lot, Liverpool kids, not pacifist or vegetarian or anything. But I feel I've gone beyond that, and that it was immature to be so prejudiced and believe in all the stereotypes.

I feel that if I said anything about John, I would have to sit here for five days and say it all. Or I don't want to say anything.

I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird.

But with writers, there's nothing wrong with melancholy. It's an important color in writing.

I don't work at being ordinary.

When you get the money, you still need to keep going; you don't stop. There has to be something else. I think it's the freedom to do what you want and to live your dreams.

It's also not unusual for writers to look backward. Because that's your pool of resources.