I'm in my 40s and I'm constantly surprised by how much my childhood still plays a part in my life.

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.

So much of friendship is about being in the right place at the right time.

...And maybe one day you will wake up as an infant in a completely different universe, and your entire life thus far was just one big dream.

I don’t want to talk as much, ’ she said, denting her chin thoughtfully with her forefinger. ‘It’s nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one’s heart, like treasures.

But there is one cool thingabout having a weirdo mother.She works so hard at rememberingwhere she left herselfshe doesn’t have timeto work on me.

You don't have to make any decisions right now, " Colleen says. "But I'll tell you this. There's life after marriage."~Excerpt from "Mad Dog Justice

The key thing about life is to be true to a set of beliefs. And to be genuine.

I grew up definitely a feminist, but I didn't call myself a feminist until I took my first women's studies class in college.

You want some? Come get some!

The Heart that is not in love will fail the test.

To patronize the faculty of taste is to patronize oneself. For taste governs every free - as opposed to rote - human response.