We're naturally afraid of a spider - these are memories that are being chemically passed down through your DNA.

I think [it's necessary to accept] things that are just true about yourself: These are my faults, these are the things I'm good at, this is where I came from, this is where I didn't come from. I think happy people are the ones who have made peace with those truths and acknowledged them, and learned to use them and live with them.

History is absolutely my thing.

I would not want to forget the first time I read The Lord of the Rings. I would never want to forget that! That was so magical to me, and that was a real eye-opening experience. I was probably 11 when I read that and already a reader, but I think that book really showed me how you can be transported and how your imagination can take you to a whole other place.

I think Scotland is probably my spiritual home and I love it there very, very much.

I am very into genealogy and heritage, and that's how I started writing.

I do think a lot about the past.