Archive material is a fabulous starting point - individual documents are like signposted roads, heading to a variety of intriguing possibilities.

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.

Since Mozart's day composers have learned the art of making music throatily and palpitatingly sexual.

God - but a word invoked to explain the world.

A man will do more for his stubbornness than for his religion or his country

You know how sometimes when you're drunk you say something you sort of regret... to Ace Frehley?

Houses are for private living, for friends, and for dogs.

If you can differentiate a dead chicken, you can differentiate anything.

The fact is that the intrinsic worth of the book, play or whatever the author is trying to sell is the least, last factor in the the whole transaction.

I really believe that you cannot use the stock market as a proxy for the economy.

Lie down on the floor and keep calm.

Capitalist production does not exist at all without foreign commerce.