During high school I worked in a retirement home. I spent many wonderful hours hearing from service men and their widows about WWI.

I firmly believe as an author you have to go out in life and hear the stories of people. In pubs in the UK or a retirement home in the US it is the stories of others that bring a book to life.

I often speak to returning service people about their experiences while serving. Whether in 1915 or 2005, the core issue of facing death on a daily basis remains.

My great uncle fought in WWI. His stories fascinated me.

I was a corporate trouble-shooter for many years, and I know what it is like to walk very carefully into a hostile environment.

I was always a killer. It was my skill, and they’d taught me well. She taught me love.

I wanted her to have the full, long life that every parent promises his or her child by the simple act of bringing that child into the world.

The mystery religions were instituted in order to protect the marvels of the commonplace from those who would devalue them.

Find out what makes you happy and do it. If you are happy, you bring happiness for the world.

Travelling becomes an excellent teacher if the traveller becomes an excellent student!

A few moments of inner peace and quiet allows the brain to reset itself. You become more centered as this happens, since the brain is clearing out distractions and too much "cross talk."

There are too many souls of wood not to love those wooden characters who do indeed have a soul.

The tragedy of the man not set up for tragedy ? that is every man?s tragedy.

It's nice to have some distance with your family. As long as you're closer to them by love.

Well, I think when we can turn to the person sitting next to us and really see them with kindness and see ourselves reflected back - when there's some dignity and compassion traveling back and forth.

The most destitute person in the world is the one without a smile.