Karin Slaughter

Books are not like albums, where you can simply download and enjoy your favorite chapter and ignore the rest.

Flannery O'Connor was a revelation for me. When I read her, I was very young, and I didn't understand what she was doing. I didn't see any of the Catholicism or any of the social stuff.

I can clearly trace my passion for reading back to the Jonesboro, Georgia, library, where, for the first time in my life, I had access to what seemed like an unlimited supply of books.

A teacher must believe in the value and interest of his subject as a doctor believes in health.

I am a big one for subtlety and empathy. My dad was softly spoken and didn't carry his honours and accomplishments for everyone to see.

My first career ambitions involved turning into a boy; I intended to be either a railway guard or a knight errant.