I'll tell you what I was most surprised to discover about my writing process, and that is that I never know what I'm doing.

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 personally love books that make me think, so I naturally gravitate toward writing a book like that, one that's going to make someone think and make me think.

I'll tell you what I was most surprised to discover about my writing process, and that is that I never know what I'm doing.

I would not give up a lot of what I know about my heritage. I would not give up knowing where I came from, the good parts and the bad parts.

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

I love getting into the basement of a courthouse, and all the dusty records - all that stuff makes me really happy.