I don't think I could write about someone I didn't feel some sympathy for.

Whenever I pick up a book I think, "Tell me something I don't know."

Endings are never neat, because when life goes on, there is no end. You may want to speculate about what the characters get up to afterwards, but I feel it would be presumptuous of me to dictate that.

I don't use real people for inspiration.

...it just goes to show you can't leave anything behind. You bring it all with you, whether you want to or not.

I despise this weakness in myself - this endless one-sided conversation that takes the place of action.

Because I work quite slowly, I have to keep myself interested over a long research and writing period. So I can't see myself writing about modern middle-class Londoners anytime soon.