A Shakespearean tragedy as so far considered may be called a story of exceptional calamity leading to the death of a man in high estate. But it is clearly much more than this and we have now to regard it from another side.

My book 'Trust Your Heart' which is the story of my life will be followed by 'Singing Lessons' a memoir of love loss hope and healing which talks about the death of my son and the hope that has been the aftermath of the healing from that tragedy.

In almost every interview someone asks what does HIM stand for. I can't even remember our latest lie about that. When Hanson was hot we said it means Hanson Is Murder. The name doesn't have a particular history. His Infernal Majesty was a totally different band. I think HIM derives from some death metal joke.

Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death.

Judged by the law of England I know this crime entails upon me the penalty of death but the history of Ireland explains that crime and justifies it.

Even when you're making a movie about life death is a presence and I guess it's part of my dramatic viewpoint. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe I'm drawn to it as a story element.

You know Americans are obsessed with life and death and rebirth that's the American Cycle. You know awakening tragic horrible death and then Phoenix rising from the ashes. That's the American story again and again.

The Teutons have been singing the swan song ever since they entered the ranks of history. They have always confounded truth with death.

The history of the world is the record of the weakness frailty and death of public opinion.

In our brief national history we have shot four of our presidents worried five of them to death impeached one and hounded another out of office. And when all else fails we hold an election and assassinate their character.

Personally I would be delighted if there were a life after death especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out.

Madame all stories if continued far enough end in death and he is no true-story teller who would keep that from you.

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.

The timing of death like the ending of a story gives a changed meaning to what preceded it.

I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again.

Mary Tyler Moore was a working woman whose story lines were not always about dating and men. They were about work friendships and relationships which is what I feel my adult life has mostly been about.

I have mostly been terrified of listening to scary stories around a campfire. We camp a lot as a family and at night my dad would try and tell us scary stories. This made eating s'mores difficult. The story would start with something like... 'and the old man who lived in these woods...' I would then run back into the camper terrified.

Most young people haven't used their storytelling skills since they were 8 or 9 or 10 and wanted to persuade Mom and Dad to take them to the ball game.

My dad knows how to tell a story. He'd make me laugh by doing all the different voices.

I remember my dad working with me on breaking down my script and writing out a back story for my character and all that stuff.

In the 'Garnethill' trilogy people always forget that Maureen O'Donnell's dad was a journalist and she did art history at uni and her brother did law but no-one ever thinks they're middle-class - they're just working class because they speak with accents.

We busted a lot of family secrets with this. But to make a long story short my parents relationship was built heavily on security issues for my Mom and when my Dad couldn't provide security the relationship unraveled.

I know this president. And I can tell you that he cares deeply about the next generation of young women in this country - his daughters and everyone's daughters. President Obama had the courage to stand with Sandra Fluke. Without hesitation he defended her right to tell her story.

There is no glory in war yet from the blackness of its history there emerge vivid colours of human character and courage. Those who risked their lives to help their friends.