P.D. James (courtesy of the Telegraph) says it all, beautifully:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/template/utils/ooyala/telegraph_player.swf
I’d expand on her notion of sensitivity to words: a writer needs to read. A novelist needs to read read novels. Good ones. Every day. You can’t write if you don’t read.
Nicola Griffith 
P.D. James was one of my favorite writers for years. I think she said somewhere that her intention was to write good novels that just happened to be mysteries (much the same way you write good novels that happen to be [insert genre of choice]).
In other news, I went to see Girl with the Dragon Tattoo today at the Midtown Art Cinema. Definitely worth seeing if you get the chance. I think most TBP fans would enjoy it.
She says it again in the video. And you know I agree…
Yeah, I was struck by her comments and how much of what she says you would agree with. Looks like she's doing pretty well for 90.