Read like a butterfly, write like a bee.

I have stolen ideas from every book I have ever read.

Writing is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent elimination.

I write almost always in the third person, and I don't think the narrator is male or female anyway. They're both, and young and old, and wise and silly, and sceptical and credulous, and innocent and experienced, all at once. Narrators are not even human - they're sprites.

I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief... I'm not in the business of offending people. I find the books upholding certain values that I think are important, such as life is immensely valuable and this world is an extraordinarily beautiful place. We should do what we can to increase the amount of wisdom in the world.

[Washington Post interview, 19 February 2001]

After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.