She looked, and a scarlet butterfly flew away from her, away down the length of the tower, and then another, another, an unraveling scarf of butterflies like winged blood.

Maidens who stay maidens turn into saints. Old women become sorceresses. Tough jobs, both of these.

Writers tell stories better, because they've had more practice, but everyone has a book in them. Yes, that old cliche.

Pirates have always fascinated me.

Im writing what comes into my head, or through me, or from somewhere else, and it is the most extraordinary, exciting thing. I love it, and Im very greedy, and I really enjoy it!

Robespierre, crippled and blind, has yet to be healed to the knowledge that service - his desire - is a deed of savage-speaking gentleness, not soft-spoken savagery.

No one more cynical than an idealist.