I am a great believer in having the power to end your life and knowing that, in extremis, you can. But I would not want to involve anybody else in my actions if it could imperil them. Deborah Moggach actionbelieverend Change image and share on social
My parents were both writers - they would type their manuscripts sitting side by side on the veranda of our house near Watford - so I wanted to do something different. I wanted to be a bluegrass singer, an architect, a landscape gardener, or to do something with animals. Deborah Moggach animalarchitectbluegrass share on social
Cycling is the only way to free ourselves from the misery of the Tube, the wall-to-wall buses that line Oxford Street, the hopelessness of even thinking about driving. Deborah Moggach busecycledrive Change image and share on social
Living together places a huge burden on the other person to be lover, friend, entertainments manager, chef, domestic help, which is almost impossible and can lead to disappointment. If you don't live together, you spend more time with other people and ease the pressure off your lover. Deborah Moggach burdenchefdisappointment share on social
All I want is for people, when they read my books, to feel companioned, to feel they're not alone in the world. Deborah Moggach bookcompanionedfeel Change image and share on social
It's not a failure if a marriage or partnership ends after a certain number of years. I think, in general, we expect too much of partners. We can't fulfil a person's every single need and, after ten years or so, many relationships wear out. If we were more philosophical about it, we wouldn't try to blame the other person or be bitter. Deborah Moggach bitterblameend share on social
Nothing beats weaving through the rush-hour traffic or whizzing past the eternal gridlock that is the Strand. Deborah Moggach beateternalgridlock Change image and share on social
Living apart is hardly possible if people have children together. It can also be more expensive to maintain two homes. But then, it's expensive to break up when you live in one property. Deborah Moggach breakchildexpensive Change image and share on social
Psych yourself up until you're confident that the world will be interested in what happens to your characters. Confidence is key. Deborah Moggach characterconfidenceconfident Change image and share on social
My perfect day is to work incredibly well in the morning and write something wonderful, then take the dog for a walk and go for a swim in the ladies' ponds on Hampstead Heath or work in my allotment. Then I get tarted up in the evening and go out in London to dinner or the cinema. Deborah Moggach allotmentcinemaday share on social