I had walked along that street all my life, but had never been so aware that my back was to my home

Normally book ideas come to me in a moment.

I find that when I come out of the library I'm in what I call the library bliss of being totally taken away from the distractions of life.

Yes, well, life is a folly. If you live long enough, nothing is surprising.

Younger women tend to be busier, wearing more layers and more make-up. I don't know if it's because older women are more confident, or just that we don't care any more. But that pared-down approach is the same with the sentences I write; I take out adjectives and adverbs and keep the description to a minimum.

You're so calm and quiet, you never say. But there are things inside you. I see them sometimes, hiding in your eyes.

I didn't move. I've learned from years of experience that dogs and falcons and ladies come back to you if you stay where you are.