Americans try to talk about positive family values although the actual state of things is disastrous.

I want to make sure that no matter how long I go through this I don't fall into the trap of changing and modifying how I do things that aren't a positive example. I want to remain somebody that the entire family can listen to or watch.

My mother's studies stopped with the third year of primary school my father with the first. They taught me a deep sense of duty. But nobody was involved in politics in my family.

We don't tend to write about disease in fiction - not just teen novels but all American novels - because it doesn't fit in with our idea of the heroic romantic epic. There is room only for sacrifice heroism war politics and family struggle.

We talked about politics constantly in my family growing up in North Carolina. There were always debates. Being of Greek background it's in our blood to drink coffee and talk politics.

I was really fascinated by politics. It always has been part of my view that politics really is a calling or you wouldn't go into it because it's demanding and potentially has a toll on you and your family.

I have always made my own rules in poetry as in life - though I have tried of late to cooperate more with my family. I do however believe that without order or pattern poetry is useless.

Those who say we should dismantle the role of Poet Laureate altogether the trick they miss is that being called this thing with the weight of tradition behind it and with the association of the Royal family does allow you to have conversations and to open doors and wallets for the good of poetry in a way that nothing else would allow.

This is probably why my life is easier and my family is very happy because we never lie each other. This is probably all people supposed to feel each other so be always in all of the world they'll be peace.

I'm at peace with my family my friends myself and God so there's really nothing else that I worry about.