“I wrote in coffee shops in Japan when I was 22, 23, before I had the s...” — Susan Barker Quote

“I wrote in coffee shops in Japan when I was 22, 23, before I had the stamina to sit down and write. I liked the buzzy environment; I couldn't speak Japanese when I arrived, so it was kind of a white noise. It felt more sociable than being alone, but now, as I've developed a writing practice, I couldn't do it.”

“My process for determining which eras I'd write about was to just read history books that gave a really broad overview of Chinese history. And when I came across a historical figure or a historical incident that was especially interesting to me, ideas for characters and stories would surface.”

“My father thought sport was something fun - he didn't know it was a way to make money. Then I won a Mercedes at the world championships and I gave it to him. From the moment it arrived my father said: 'Good, you can support not just yourself but me too'.”

“It's a real blessing for me to tell you, sir, that calvary has arrived - Fox is here!”

“I came from a very middle-class family and had to take out loans to go to college. I was really shocked when I arrived at school at the difference between those who had money and those who didn't.”