A writer is like a stick of rock - the words go right through.

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.

We all must decide: either we live our lives to fulfill a mission or make money.

I like marriage, family life and I wish to get married again. But opting out of an unhappy marriage was a duty toward myself & my future.

...[P]erhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return---that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness.

Pfft, I hate Christmas Day. It's for children and families. Not for people like me.

All the freaky people make the beauty of the world.

There's no use fussing on a boy who doesn't have any ability.

How you get work done is by exploiting yourself and your feelings, and sometimes people get in the way.

Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly.

The something inside me that always fought to win, that never gave into the pain and that accepted no less than 110 percent has never been gone because that something was simply me.

I’m very determined. If I decide that something is worth doing, then I’ll put my heart and soul to it. The whole ground can be against me, but if I know it is right, I’ll do it.