I'm an ardent tennis player. I'm like an overenthusiastic child out there and I've damaged my back. It's not that it's crippling pain, more mental anguish.

Next quotes

• Ardal O'Hanlon:

  I spent five years in Dublin as a stand-up, living on pea sandwiches. But at times I quite enjoyed

• Ardal O'Hanlon:

  I think we all get a bit bogged down in our lives and our own careers and we have to take a step ba

• Nick Earls:

  I got into writing because books and stories were always a big part of my life. I loved listening t

• Nick Earls:

  When I was about eight, I realised the person whose name was on the book got money for it, and it s

• Nick Earls:

  I wrote my first novel-length story when I was 14 but had no idea what to do with it. Brisbane was

• Nick Earls:

  Being a parent means my time use has to be a bit more focused, but it also gives me a new non-writi

• Nick Earls:

  When I create a character, particularly my central character, I want someone who is interesting and

• Nick Earls:

  I think one of the things the writers' festival does that is very good is that it brings writers fr

• Nick Earls:

  You can have your own language. You can have your own dialect; you can have your own way of saying

• Nick Earls:

  E-books present the greatest opportunity readers have ever had to find each other. It's a chance fo