But if you observe children learning in their first few years of life you can see that they can and do learn on their own - we leave them alone to crawl walk talk and gain control over their bodies. It happens without much help from parents.

I have a grim outlook on the world and in particular on humanity. Spent years denying it but I am very misanthropic. And I live alone on a mountain for a reason.

Largely this is a class thing - writers tend to be cosseted little middle-class kiddies who think that the world owes them a royalty cheque. But just doing it - being in your room for years on end locked in your head alone with invented ghosts - it weakens and softens the body. And I know I can't just live in my head.

Perhaps the best motivation for going to Mars is political. It is obvious that no single nation currently has either the will or the resources to do it alone but a consortium of nations and space agencies could achieve it within 20 years.

I was able to support myself by acting alone about six years ago. Until then I was just scraping by.

I've performed solo for 20 years now but I don't do much of it because if you only play alone you go crazy and out of tune and play foolish music.

I know that books I have written will still resonate in 50 years - particularly 'My Sister's Keeper.' It has sold three million copies in the States alone. I strongly feel that as a novelist you have a platform and the ability to change people's minds.

I'm not into watching stuff I did last week let alone three or four years ago.

It's always easier if you have the support of your family if you're not alone. I came from a country that has been through a lot of troubles in the last 20 to 30 years but we have been through them together.

Most bands don't even last fourteen months let alone fourteen years.