I wish I knew how to sleep late! I generally wake horribly early, often with a head full of thoughts and deadlines that propel me to my computer.

Take on jobs, projects and challenges that frighten you. It's the best way to get rid of fear.

The system isn't working for most people and never has worked for most women.

We are all impacted by the failings of a news media that almost always chooses which stories to cover according to the priorities and perspectives of white men with private educations.

Writing a book is like running a marathon. You need to be fit to do it, mentally and, as far as possible, physically.

One of the reasons I'm able to write books and still carry on with other work is that I do my best writing between 5am and midday.

It is, after all, absurd that in 2017 women are still at best second-class citizens.

I've taken a certain a pride in all of my books. They devour so much time and energy that you have to engage deeply or you'd go mad.

It's not enough to vent about what you don't like on social media. I would ask everyone who can, men included, to get involved in an organisation actively working for gender equality.

The sooner you make a mistake and learn to live with it, the better. You're not responsible for everything. You can't control the way things end up.

[O]n general principles it is best that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes.

It wasn't aliens that first made us gear up for war

We did have three go to the YMCA.

Friendship is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.

No country is free unless it is democratic.

Just keep going - no feeling is final.

I try to be genuine. I try to be real. It's such a subjective thing, but I try to convey an emotion.

Nothing stinks like a pile of unpublished writing.

To understand is not only to pardon, but in the end to love.