We look before and after And pine for what is not Our sincerest laughter With some pain is fraught Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.

After these three novels I gave up writing novels for a time I was dissatisfied with romantic doom yet didn't see much way around it.

Is that romantic fantasy real? Um after kids no. Take the kids away I don't know. Depends.

People expect me to be dark and gloomy then write that I'm a jolly chap and after all that is what I am. I think it's a case of an absolute romantic naivety that there should be a parallel between the work and the artist.

The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule.

I said 'Brian no one is going to respect me as a mother after this.' He said 'oh no yes they will this is a movie don't worry about it.' But they're not.

I respect the people who buy my records and come to my concerts. It's only fair that I always try to give them the very best that's in me. After all I need them more than they need me.

It's not easy to retire at 31. In one respect I was glad I was done. But after a few years of having fun I got a little restless. When you're 33 34 and you don't have a focus you can get kind of lost. As a man you feel a little bit unfulfilled.

Nonetheless do I have respect for people who believe in the hereafter? Of course I do. I might add perhaps even a touch of envy too because of the solace.

To live your life well and have respect for what came before or after - there's a strong respect for that in African culture.