The financial value put on the job of the writer and the misconceptions around that make it extremely difficult to enter the profession.

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.

Ain’t nothing worse to a mama than losing her baby—

The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.

Certainly there's got to be a little bit of reality show fatigue happening.

To know the right means of getting something done is virtually to have done it.

My parents were very patient with my pretentious little adolescent snobberies. It took me awhile to accept them.

We would have broken up except for the children. Who were the children? Well, she and I were.

If he should love deny him what he loves!

the moment you stop learning, you stop leading.

You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted that you mean to do right.

God himself took this human flesh upon him.