A book unwritten is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody book that’s ever been written.

I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power.

I think that whenever a nation feels itself to be at is zenith, it starts to feel a creeping sense of anxiety.

Don't try to write too much in a single session. One thousand words a day is quite enough. Stop after about four or five hours.

First comes an idea. Then, characters begin to evolve out of the landscape of that idea. And then, finally, characters dominate: plot is simply a function of what these people might do or be. Everything has to flow from their personalities; otherwise it will not be emotionally engaging, or plausible.

People perish. Books are immortal.

Suicide leaves everyone feeling guilty.