I was just lucky I lived in this time of mass-market paperbacks. Maeve Binchy liveluckymarket Change image and share on social
I don't say I was 'proceeding down a thoroughfare;' I say I 'walked down the road'. I don't say I 'passed a hallowed institute of learning;' I say I 'passed a school'. Maeve Binchy hallowinstitutelearn Change image and share on social
I love thriller writers. My favourites are Harlan Coban, Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Kathy Reichs and Ed McBain. Maeve Binchy childcobanfavourite Change image and share on social
An English journalist called Michael Viney told me when I was 25, that I would write well if I cared a lot what I was writing about. That worked. I went home that day and wrote about parents not understanding their children as well as we teachers did, and it was published the very next week. Maeve Binchy callcarechild share on social
My memory of my home was that it was very happy, and that there was more fun and life there than there was anywhere else. Maeve Binchy funhappyhome Change image and share on social
Modern surgery has been like a miracle to those who thought the pain was going to go on forever. Maeve Binchy forevermiraclemodern Change image and share on social
I think I'm brave because I've made decisions based - I hope not entirely selfishly - on what I think is right for me to do next. Maeve Binchy basebravedecision Change image and share on social
Because I saw my parents relaxing in armchairs and reading and liking it, I thought it was a peaceful grown-up thing to do, and I still think that. Maeve Binchy armchairgrowlike Change image and share on social
I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turn into confident ducks. Maeve Binchy confidentduckduckling Change image and share on social
I am much more understanding of people than I used to be when I was young - people were either villainous or wonderful. They were painted in very bright colours. The bad side of it - and there is a corollary to everything - is that when we get older, we fuss more. I used to despise people who fussed. Maeve Binchy badbrightcolour share on social