I always do like to write love stories, even if they end tragically.

Be careful about the advice you give, especially to your children.

I was getting rewarded for writing well, from about the age of five or six. A teacher would say, "Look what Andrew has written," and I thought, "Maybe I could be a writer."

People like bonnets. I don't think you can under-estimate that.

I used to have this Mercedes, a dark blue 450SLC, which was the most beautiful car. I'd like to have another unusual, beautiful car.

When you see two writers named on a movie, one of them did some drafts and got the boot.

Novels often have leisurely openings; a TV drama needs an arresting opening.

I prefer love scenes to be shot up close with a lot of focus on eyes and mouths. Otherwise it can feel uncomfortable and voyeuristic.

As a fairly innocent teenager, growing up in a village in Wales, I just thought, "God, I would like to go and hang about Soho and write great poetry and try to avoid drinking myself to death."

I'm absolutely delighted if people think of me as a reliable purveyor of quality period stuff.

I suppose I have the tastes of someone who teaches at a university in the provinces.

Waiting patiently for the fatest bone is a dog's lifestyle.

The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire.

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by my wrist and pushed me back into my chair. 'It is both, or none,' said he. 'You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me.

The whole trial seemed surreal.

Today much of anti-biofuel "science" - including the false claim that biofuels need more energy to make than they contain - has been shown to be complete hogwash, bought and paid for by big oil.

God is not there just for emergencies.

We have an anti-choice president, an anti-choice House and Senate. They might pass a national ban. It's already virtually impossible for people in some areas to get an abortion.

I have newspapers coming to me and saying, 'Can we get in on the TARP?'.

BMW models are more powerful on average than competitors. This is precisely what we are aiming for: less fuel consumption and more driving pleasure.

It wasn't until the late '70s that a lot of people knew me.