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.

I suppose the short chapters and differing narrative points of view are quite "cinematic" devices, which came very naturally to me.

I definitely do feel a pull toward people and places that are far from my own life.

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.

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

I don't use real people for inspiration.