Much of my time is taken up by reading, researching and trying out ideas.

The option is always on the table. When we [with Bjork] were starting as creative kids in the Eighties, we found each other. I was 19, she was 16 and a friendship was made.

I do quite extensive research for most of my novels.

Now 10 percent of this population [in Iceland] of 330,000 people were born elsewhere - Polish, North Africans, Europeans, Americans - people are coming from all over. It is still changing society in a good way.

I followed the launch of the library with Margaret Atwood and then David Mitchell. I just sat quietly at home secretly envying them. Then just over a month ago she asked me if I would like to be the third author to join the library.

Much of my time is taken up by reading, researching and trying out ideas.

All authors secretly hope that their works will be read in 100 years' time and 200 years, and that they will somehow survive into the future.