Books exist for me not as physical entities with pages and binding, but in the province of my mind.

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.

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.

To give up doing evil is more important than making merit.

My life is a suitcase. I am the traveling Mexican.

The entry of a child into any situation changes the whole situation.

Budgets are nothing if not statements of priorities.

I dont like Miami that much. I dont like the weather. My base is Miami, but I travel a lot.

When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.

My male colleagues sometimes wonder if I understand as much about defense as I ought to. Of course if I agree with them, they think that I do.

It is in falling down that we learn almost everything that matters spiritually.