I wasn't even aware of the Year of the Family. I couldn't give a toss. These things - the year of the family, the year of the three-legged dog. I think it's all trash.

If there is a heaven, Jane Austen is sitting in a small room with Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, listening to Duran Duran, forever. If there's a hell, she's standing.

I do enjoy Gothic fiction or books about zombies if they are well written and I like vampires.

The problem with being Irish... is having 'Riverdance' on your back. It's a burden at times.

I see people in terms of dialogue and I believe that people are their talk.

The best way to reveal a character is to get them to open their mouths.

When I was growing up, the exam system didn't allow you to write fiction, so you never did.