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.

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.

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.

While I'm frustrated at the amount I'm expected to take on in the present, the 1950s woman was frustrated by being excluded - not being allowed to take things on at all.

When he is most powerful, nothing does he become.

Books are something which by the words breaths when you stop writing it stops it's own proccess = breathing..

Her mother and memory lapses were BFFs.

A white wall is the fool's paper.

If you intend to make a living at drawing, by all means learn it [the rules of perspective] now, and do not have them bothering you and your work for the rest of your life.

It's a sponge and I'm a sponge and for a second there all our sponge parts are one and I don't just have square pants, everything about me is squarish because I'm part of a wall.

Nobody should be allowed to tinker with democracy. We will not discontinue the good works of the past government.

Hollywood has treated me well.

He who tries to flee from God takes refuge in himself.

And may we not say, Adeimantus, that the most gifted minds, when they are ill- educated, become the worst?