Mark Haddon

"I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me, writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are, you come out and hope that no one runs away."

"Use your imagination, and you'll see that even the most narrow, humdrum lives are infinite in scope if you examine them with enough care."

"Writing for children is bloody difficult books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect."

"Science and literature give me answers. And they ask me questions I will never be able to answer."