Men aren't really complicated. They are very simple, literal creatures. They usually mean what they say. And we spend hours trying to analyze what they've said, when really it's obvious.

It's the fantasy of first love. If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you can vicariously through a book. And it is such a fantasy. It takes you away from doing the dishes and the laundry. I think of this as a contemporary romance rather than erotic fiction.

I think women love to read love stories.

Once you're in charge of your job, your house, your children, getting the food on the table, doing all of this, all of the time, it'd be nice for someone else to be in charge for a bit maybe.

Don't get your panties in such a twist... and give me back mine.

All a writer wants is to be read, and people are so flattering and lovely. I mean, there are witches out there as well. But most are so kind.

I've set the bar quite high in terms of storytelling.

I think you can only be truly mad at someone you really love.

I do not look at the world in terms of black and white - and I find people who do rather scary. I think it's all shades of grey.

Never trust a man who can dance.

Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me. Perhaps I've spent too long in the company of my literary romantic heroes, and consequently my ideals and expectations are far too high.

A controlling man, surely a mythical creature?

I think virgins are far more interesting to write about. If we've been around the block a few times, we know what to expect. Not so with virgins.

If you've been married for 400 years, as I have, it's nice to experience first love again and you can vicariously through a book.

Language evolves and moves on. It is an organic thing. It is not stuck in an ivory tower, hung with expensive works of art.

I came up with a story and I wrote it.