'I am never without a book. It would be tortuous for me to be on a journey, short or long, without something to read.'

I am never without a book. It would be tortuous for me to be on a journey, short or long, without something to read. I have books in the bathroom, bedroom and the living room.

'I both know how it works, and don't know how it works; the best metaphor I can come up with is mayonnaise. '

I both know how it works, and don't know how it works. The best metaphor I can come up with is mayonnaise; you put all the ingredients into the mixer, press the button.

'"Murder your darlings" doesn't come from a Calvinist idea that anything that gives pleasure must be sinful; it's about forcing yourself to act on the little voice that goes on saying that a piece of writing isn't working.'

"Murder your darlings" doesn't come from a Calvinist idea that anything that gives pleasure must be sinful; it's about forcing yourself to act on the little voice that goes on saying that a piece of writing isn't working in the story.

'First I get the central character. Then two ideas I thought were completely separate suddenly collide, revealing themselves to be part of the same story.'

First I get the central character. Then two ideas I thought were completely separate suddenly collide, revealing themselves to be part of the same story; I have the beginnings of a plot.

'The industry is all about minimising risk and so you yourself have to take that risk. Obviously to take big risks on multiple projects could be financial suicide.'

The industry is all about minimising risk and so you yourself have to take that risk. Obviously to take big risks on multiple projects could be financial suicide, and so being selective is key.

'Puzzles, mirrors, infinite regressions, paradoxes; these perfectly crafted, erudite stories - despite their appeal to the intellect - grip like a vice.'

Puzzles, mirrors, infinite regressions, paradoxes; these perfectly crafted, erudite stories - despite their appeal to the intellect - grip like a vice.

'He paid his groom an extra five pounds a year to wake him up early every morning with a cup of coffee so that he could be at his desk at half past five. '

He paid his groom an extra five pounds a year to wake him up early every morning with a cup of coffee so that he could be at his desk at half past five.

'I remember the fresh surge of determination as I turned back to my screen, applied myself once more to the keyboard, and set out to prove him wrong.'

I remember the bitter disappointment as the words sunk in; but most of all I remember the fresh surge of determination as I turned back to my screen, applied myself once more to the keyboard, and set out to prove him wrong.

'I feel a kick in the stomach, a tug at the heart, and I know that this germ of an idea might just grow into my next book, but I need to be sure. '

I feel a kick in the stomach, a tug at the heart, and I know that this germ of an idea might just grow into my next book, but I need to be sure before I commit myself to three years of total absorption.

'I was always envious of the flute section in the orchestra at school; a row of neat-looking, trendy girls who didn't have to concern themselves with valve oil or spit keys.'

I was always envious of the flute section in the orchestra at school; a row of neat-looking, trendy girls who didn't have to concern themselves with valve oil or spit keys.