I'm very honoured that there is a loyal following and I hope it continues

I have one vivid memory of one of the days that the marches were taking place. We were in a Catholic, predominantly Polish and Lithuanian neighborhood. Chicago is a place where people define themselves by their parish and by their ethnicity.

I think Peter Dickinson is hands down the best stylist as a writer and the most interesting storyteller in my genre.

If you're born lucky, you don't have to be good.

My parents were liberal intellectuals but even they expected me to stay at home and look after my younger siblings and do the housework.

Never underestimate a man's ability to underestimate a woman.

No agent wants to see a book until he or she has decided whether to pursue the relationship