“My attitude is that if anybody of any age wants to read a book, let them, but I do think that no child would want to read Boneland.”

Ive learned never to try and force words to come.

… I had never given much credence to the phenomenon of “writer’s block”.

It isn’t like that at all. It may be more difficult now, and take longer than when I started to write, but there’s a great, empty warehouse out there looking for simple talent.

My great-grandfather was a self-taught man, and his library was extraordinary. I read the lot.

At this level, only images connect. And here, story becomes symbol; symbol is myth. And myth is truth.

It’s where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this.

Hitting the gym to release stress is not nearly as effective as hitting the people that cause the stress to begin with.

If you are going to write, nothing will stop you, and if you are not going to write, nothing will make you.

I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.

Oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I inherited by osmosis.

I learnt that I must never finish a book with nothing else to do.

Plus it’s not a purse, it’s called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

I’ll buy metaphor, but simile’s a cop-out used by scaredycats who won’t commit to anything. Simile’s for cowards.

My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space.

Im not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school or a Chuck E. Cheese.

I loathe crowds. I especially dont like cities.

I love to read poetry but I haven’t written anything that I’m willing to show anybody.

If you don’t get killed, it’s a lucky day for anybody.

I don’t have to explain anything to anybody.

Damn referees, I’ll miss them less than anybody.

Listen, anybody who has a film festival has the right to show what they want.

It is always dangerous to underestimate anybody.

I think people often misunderstand that I work as hard and want things just as badly as anybody else.

But I’ve been there and done that. I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody, and if somebody wants me to come.