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I spend a lot of time reading.

I spend eight months outlining and researching the novel before I begin to write a single word of the prose.

I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot. I think I'll always be more of a reader than a writer, definitely. There are sooo many books in the world I haven't read, sometimes I feel as if they're all piled on top of my head weighing me down and saying, 'Hurry up.'

One of the great joys of my job is that you spend a huge amount of time investigating different areas of literature.

Typically, a book takes me about a year to write.

I became a writer because I love to read, yet I never get to unless I'm reviewing a book or doing research.

I read a lot. I am an inveterate reader. I always have a novel going.

Without the faintest possibility of finding a job, I decided to devote myself to literature: it was about time to find out what I was worth as a writer.

I love research. Sometimes I think writing novels is just an excuse to allow myself this leisurely time of getting to know a period and reading its books and watching its films. I see it as a real treat.