A paucity of material can open up just as many possibilities.

It is through our extended family that we first learn to compromise and come to an understanding that even if we don't always agree about things we can still love and look out for each other.

I always thought that bagels and lox was my soul food, but it turns out it's sushi.

Something I notice speaking to writers from south of Hadrians Wall is that the culture is different. At base, I think Scotland values its creative industries differently from England.

I jealously guard my research time and I love fully immersing myself in those dusty old books and papers. It's one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.

The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.

I believe the era of the militant lady is back.

Without archives many stories of real people would be lost, and along with those stories, vital clues that allow us to reflect and interpret our lives today.

Research material can turn up anywhere - in a dusty old letter in an archive, a journal or some old photographs you find in a charity shop.

Writers of novels live in a strange world where what's made up is as important as what's real.

Books have a vital place in our culture. They are the source of ideas, of stories that engage and stretch the imagination and most importantly, inspire.

Becoming a failure requires no strength

You know there is such a things as a door, " I whispered. "You should try it some time.

Uncertainty is as good a way as any to kill a story.

Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct.

The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.

We can learn what we did not know. We are not only good at destroying the Old World, we are also good at building the new.

I kind of just roll up on stage. I realize that as soon as I find myself wearing something that I haven't worn ten times in the past, I'm like, "Who am I right now? I don't recognize myself!"

The press is ferocious. It forgives nothing, it only hunts for mistakes . . . In my position anyone sane would have left a long time ago.

Hitting is fifty percent above the shoulders.

I have a lot of energy, a lot of interest, a lot of desire.