The mass communications that could enable our politics for good have instead turned it into a bland conglomeration of stinted opinion cloaked in the occasional media frenzy of blame or denial.

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.

Bad habits have brought me this far: why change such a tried-and-true formula?

Whatever's on your mind is also on God's heart.

The definition of stupid is the inabilitly to see another side to an argument other than one's own.

If you’re too afraid to make mistakes and blunders, then better stay at your 6 by 6 cell and follow the one who is ready to make.

I like a bit of mongrel myself, whether it's a man or a dog.

I do not believe in objects. I believe only in their relationships.

I like to repaint rooms, to redecorate. My dream would be to have pieds-à-terre in various places.

In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.

Every movie I do is challenging for me. There is some element of imaginative that you wouldn't have in a typical movie.

We are most of us very lonely in this world; you who have any who love you, cling to them and thank God.