there’s some who’d even pretend they just had big bones rather than stand up an’ say – I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed. “Never be ashamed,” my ol’ dad used ter say, “there’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth botherin’ with.

There's no formula.

If ever I expected to come face to face with an angry Christian fundamentalist, it wasn't in FAO Schwarz.

I'm opposed to fundamentalism in any form.

With all of their benefits, and there are many, one of the things I regret about e-books is that they have taken away the necessity of trawling foreign bookshops or the shelves of holiday houses to find something to read. I've come across gems and stinkers that way, and both can be fun.

Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.