Dear though the reader might be, I'd be silly to cater to what the reader wanted.

In general, questions are fine; you can always seize upon the parts of them that interest you and concentrate on answering those. And one has to remember when answering questions that asking questions isn't easy either, and for someone who's quite shy to stand up in an audience to speak takes some courage.

I think it's possible to be multi-rooted, rather like a banyan tree, without being deracinated.

I just love music - by no stretch of the imagination am I professionally competent.

All you who sleep tonight Far from the ones you love, No hand to left or right, An emptiness above-- Know that you aren't alone. The whole world shares your tears, Some for two nights or one, And some for all your years.

I certainly think its very important that writers as citizens - not necessarily as writers, but just as ordinary citizens - should talk about things that matter to them.

Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?