If my writing comes to a halt, I head to the shops: I find them very inspirational. And if I get into real trouble with my plot, I go out for a pizza with my husband.

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about what could have been. It’s too unbearable.

Life's too short for minimalism.

I know this is our honeymoon. But just sometimes, I wish Luke was a girl.

I had gone to Oxford to read music. I had done music all my life, but when I got to college I didn't want to do it anymore.

I don't speak Japanese, I don't know anything about Japanese business or Japanese culture. Apart from sushi. But I can't exactly go up to him and say "Sushi!" out of the blue. It would be like going up to a top American businessman and saying, "T-bone steak!

I adore all Agatha Christie's books and turn to them whenever I'm ill or need cheering up.