I am opposed to war, to killing people, to any kind of hatred and violence.

It's a wonderful thing to write for children.

I move between the two: I write an adult novel, and then I write a children's book. I quite enjoy that. It's a nice change of pace each time.

I can remember being eight, and I like writing about that age of innocence when children still have a sense of wonder.

Children's authors don't talk down or patronise their younger readers.

It's not easy making a living as a writer, and for many years I worked at a Waterstones in Dublin. It was a good environment for an aspiring writer, with lots of events and authors appearing.