I love writing and can't imagine not being able to do it. I want an easy life and if it had been difficult I wouldn't be doing it. I do admire writers who do it even though it costs them.

Something in your voice tells me we approach the question of remuneration.

Empathize with stupidity and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot.

Mr Blawke always reminded me of a heron; I'm not sure why. Something to do with a sense of rapacious stillness, perhaps, and also the aura of one who knows time is on his side.

There's an old Sysan saying that the soup of life is salty enough without adding tears to it.

Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get a situation where people are being tortured for very trivial reasons.

My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most important genre there is.

I remember being shocked when I discovered some of my school pals didn't have books in their homes. I thought it was like not having oxygen, or hot water.

I am, as I have always been, of the opinion that while the niceties of normal moral constraints should be our guides, they must not be our masters.

I've always loved Scotland, and I'm not a huge fan of big cities, to be honest. I like them to dip into for a bit, but I'm not sure I would want to live in one again.

In theory, I work an eight-hour day and a five-day week which means I can socialise with my pals who mostly have normal jobs like teaching and computer programming.

THE JOURNEY WILL BE MORE PLEASANT AND THE CHALLENGES WILL BE ADVENTURES IF YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO IN LIFE .

You're a brave, brave girl, Tula" Gaby told her."I know", said the little girl. "I got it from you.

My parents didn't make a lot of money. My dad was not a high school graduate - he didn't have a career as such; he was a printing salesman essentially for most of his working life.

There are some similarities, of course (between Iraq and Vietnam). Death is terrible.

Humor is important in everything. Dress with a little humor and you can go a long way.

Man forms himself in his own interior, and nowhere else.

A faint blush melting through the light of thy transparent cheek like a rose-leaf bathed in dew.

I make music and I can't stop. It's a compulsion and an obsession and a curse.

I'm officially disabled, but I'm truly enabled because of my lack of limbs. My unique challenges have opened up unique opportunities to reach so many in need.

My fans are the best fans, because they're charming, they're sweet and they're super intelligent. Thank you guys so much!