“What I find is that it's the middle-aged authors who have lived a life...” — Fiona McIntosh Quote

“What I find is that it's the middle-aged authors who have lived a life who have the most important, interesting voices. They just need someone to give them the key to unlock the door.”

“I don't see myself as an artist, as a writer. The sort of writing that I do, which is popular fiction, it's work. I have contracts to fulfil, and I have deadlines to meet.”

“Readers want to have the confidence that you understand the era in which the book is set, so for 'The Perfumer's Secret,' I needed to know everything about the First World War from a French perspective. I had to understand those people and that town in 1914.”

“Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states.”

“Maybe just as many women writers as male writers could be billed as the next great American writer by their publisher. Maybe book criticism sections could review an equal amount of female and male writers. Maybe Oprah could start putting some books by women authors in her book club, since most of her audience is women.”

“Humans are very complex; I definitely have a new respect for authors that are able to write books nonstop. It's an incredible talent.”