But I was supported by an incredibly strong crew, many of whom I’ve known for years from having worked in New Zealand. It was a very collaborative effort.

I have a tip that can take 5 strokes off anyone's golf game. It's called an eraser.

there was no way I could have accomplished the bin Laden operation without the help of Special Forces

I couldn’t have asked for better collaborators on the stage play than John Tiffany (director) and Jack Thorne (writer).

And as time went on, I began to disagree with some of the things I said in the first book. Or I wanted to work out some things better.

As I got up in my 70s, stories began coming to me more and more rarely. I finished the novel Lavinia at 78. I no longer have the stamina to undertake a new novel, even if I wanted to. So, here I am, an old writer who loves writing – what have I got left to do?

If you’ve got a book that’s writing itself, let it! Follow it as far as it takes you, as hard as you can. Forget the willpower business.

Because, yeah, I am afraid of madness. It’s scary.

That's it. Mostly. Really, the people and the issues all come together in a sort of clump or knot, and writing the story is untying, unwinding the knot.

The book is done when you say it’s done. It’s entirely up to you. It’s your responsibility.