One thing the passage of time has shown me is that you never know how you'll behave in a situation until you're in that situation yourself.

I think that under ordinary circumstances (i.e., neither person is famous), it's already hard enough to make a long-term romantic relationship work, but add fame to the calculus.

So much of what determines our happiness, I believe, is who we choose as our intimates.

Unless I'm writing trying to write about a historical figure, I don't really set out to read or research with a specific topic in mind.

The effects of fame on the not-famous people who are close to a celebrity - this is definitely a topic that continues to interest me.

Thirty years ago, the Pandora's box of the Internet wasn't yet a fact of life, and celebrities inhabited a more remote, hard-to-reach plane.

Sometimes I do work on a longer manuscript in tandem with one or two shorter pieces - whether it's a short story or an essay (though I don't write many of the latter).

Mostly what ends up inspiring me and affecting my work are books by authors that I love.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

If you want to lead an extraordinary life, find out what the ordinary do–and don't do it.

Believe in people, they fly for a day. Teach them to believe in themselves, they soar for a lifetime.

To take for granted one's blessings is a damage to the soul, and in time one will lose them, simply from lack of care. One should never tire of nourishing and treasuring all that is lovely.

My mom was a medical photographer, but on the side, she did a before-and-after glam photography business in the house. She would do makeup and hair - and I was her assistant.

Being protective is important.

All kids, I think, are creative, but they get it pounded out of them in school.

I'm very proud of my Scottish blood.

I prefer people who rock the boat to people who jump out

No one really likes Switzerland, except those who prefer cleanliness to life.