James Herbert

“I've actually seen a ghost, so I know they're really around.”

“I've always loved comic books. As a kid, I used to read cowboy stories and historical comics about other worlds, unknown places that would take me out of myself and which helped to develop my imagination.”

“To be haunted is to glimpse a truth that might best be hidden.”

“I never plan my novels because if I know what is going to happen, it bores me rigid. I let the story tell itself.”

“For me, a good friend is someone you might only see once or twice a year but each time it feels as though you've just seen them last week.”

“I'm not into high literature, but I think all my books are literate.”

“I have a dread of sounding pretentious and try not to talk too much about what I do.”

“I'm very cagey about making friends, and I rarely do.”

“I worry about the many things that could happen to the people I love.”

“I hate violence, and I didn't plan to write horror; it just poured out of me.”

“I've always suffered from being labelled a horror writer - just because I didn't go to university, just because I still talk in my natural voice, just because I'm not as articulate as Martin Amis.”

“The photographer was lost for riposte, obvious though it should have been; instead he turned to run. At least his mind did. In fact, his mind had already scooted down the Broad Walk and was clambering over the railings at the end, whereas his body had remained rooted to the spot. With some effort he looked down at his feet as if to reprimand them. They refused to take notice.”

“I grew up in the East End of London, the youngest of three boys in a Catholic household. Both my parents were market traders and worked seven days a week.”

“I'm terrible in the mornings, but I'm always at my desk by 10 A.M.”