Books were my window on the world. Growing up at the Elephant and Castle, which was very rough, my paradise was the library.

One of the very first serious books I read when I was growing up was 'Atlas Shrugged.'

I was a very observant child. The boys in my books are based on boys in my neighborhood growing up.

To me, growing old is great. It's the very best thing - considering the alternative.

Growing up, there was only classical music on BBC Radio. We had to listen to the American Forces Network in Germany, which played pop songs, or the pirate radio boats off the coast.

Mariah and Whitney Houston were my goddesses growing up.