“The second technique was the ever popular chimney fire and number three had to be the drunken cigarette drop on the carpet.”

The minutes ticked past. This is why peelers need a book.

The chip-pan fire was by far the most popular method these Proddies had for burning their houses down.

Human beings are pattern-seeking animals. It’s part of our DNA. That’s why conspiracy theories and gods are so popular: we always look for the wider, bigger explanations for things.

A wee paperback to stick in your pocket.

Mind you, why they’d be cooking chips at this hour was anyone’s guess.

Drawing Dead is a brilliant noir from one of Australia’s most exciting new novelists.

We chat about clothes and if we’re going on the red carpet we definitely talk about what we are going to wear.

If it was up to me, I would just wear jeans and t-shirts, even to red carpets, but then no one would photograph me, so that would make me very sad. So you know, I’ve gotta keep up with the rest of the female population and sometimes try a little harder.

Often you see people on the red carpet with tight up-dos, but that makes me feel stiff.

I’m always on a red carpet . . . the other day I thought, this ain’t bad. You can meet people on it.

We need objects to remind us of the commitments we’ve made. That carpet from Morocco reminds us of the impulsive, freedom-loving side of ourselves we’re in danger of losing touch with. Beautiful furniture gives us something to live up to. All designed objects are propaganda for a way of life.

Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet.

It’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world.

I love to love. However, you won’t see anybody walking the red carpet with me until I’m married.