Gerry Adams, as well as writing political tracts, has tried to develop his literary talents. In a different world he might have pursued a career as an author. It was in that context, and with no disrespect to his output, that the question was casually put: how come none of the protagonists of the 30-year conflict has emerged as a great writer?
This in contrast to 1916 and the War of Independence period that produced luminaries such as Frank O'Connor, Sean O'Faolain, Peadar O'Donnell and Ernie O'Malley.
The question engages his interest. "They all wrote afterwards. First there was a settlement, then they wrote well. A lot of that flowering came some time afterwards."
As for his own fiction writing? "I just haven't had the time."
It's apparent he would like to get back to such work, and if he does he won't be short of source material. That could happen if all aspects of the Belfast Agreement were finally allowed to settle and develop. And that largely hinges on what happens in the negotiations after these elections. It hinges, too, on what the IRA does or doesn't do.
Foremost in his mind this election eve is for Sinn Fein to do well in the Westminster and local polls. Doing well means Pat Doherty winning West Tyrone and gaining three-seat parity of representation with the SDLP at Westminster - although Sinn Fein won't sit in Westminster. Adams and Martin McGuinness are virtual certainties to hold their seats in West Belfast and Mid-Ulster. The party also means to increase its number of council seats from 74 to 100. It's all part of what Gerry Adams - adopting the language of Mr Tony Blair - calls the "Sinn Fein project" - to be top dog in Northern Ireland in five years' time.
Mr Adams is also looking south. He predicts that Caoimhghin O Caolain will retain Cavan-Monaghan, that Martin Ferris will win Kerry North, that Sean Crowe has the best chance in the Dublin constituencies. There could also be surprises in Louth and Sligo/Leitrim in the Irish general election.
Mr Trimble has uttered some very caustic comments about republicans. He accused them in general of not realising the "depths they plumbed" through "sectarian" IRA violence.
Does Mr Adams feel the IRA should express remorse, as the UVF and UDA did when they called their ceasefires?
Mr Adams says people should remember that the loyalist apology did not prevent the UVF and UDA going on subsequent "killing sprees". The IRA has expressed "regret" when civilians were killed, he says. "The one thing about the IRA, they accept what they have done even when it is unpopular."
The West Belfast candidate says he "deeply, deeply regrets" incidents such as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. But as for the notion of remorse, as in his urging the IRA to admit its killings were morally wrong, Mr Adams will not go down that road.
He remarks on the DUP's softening of its approach to the accord. "The nuance, the actual shift in the DUP position, is a response to what they are hearing on the doorsteps."
This, he is certain, is the genesis of the DUP accepting it must treat with republicans as well as everybody else. "I've often said that any unionist leader, if they move towards the rhetoric or the reality of trying to carve out a new dispensation, then they end up on the road that David Trimble is now on."
Is there a deal on? Like Mr Trimble, he suggests it could take beyond the First Minister's resignation date of July 1st for everything to be sorted. But he, too, says it can happen.
"Listening to David Trimble, he is almost lemming-like in his assertion that he is going to resign. He appears to be suggesting that he's prepared to risk the institutions, or go through some big crisis, in the expectation that in the longer term he will force the IRA, particularly, to do something on the arms issue."
Indeed, it has been noticeable during this long election campaign that there was little Sinn Fein whingeing over Mr Trimble's resignation threat.
Weapons are a sensitive issue for the IRA, and everyone including Mr Trimble, should be conscious of the difficulties, adds Mr Adams.
"I don't know how much real understanding there is about how difficult this whole arms issue is for the IRA, or indeed, how much it is almost separate from the political responsibilities of the parties." But, while critical of Mr Trimble's comments, he none the less says they won't have a bearing on whether or not the IRA will put it arms beyond use.
Later in the interview the question of the disbandment of the RUC is raised. Does he equally expect the IRA to disband?
"The objective of this process is to see the end of all the armed groups. The objective of this process is to see a permanent peaceable and peaceful situation. That's the objective."
During the campaign there was confusion over whether, in the expectation of demographic changes in favour of nationalism, Sinn Fein would seek to renegotiate the agreement closer to a position of joint authority.
But Mr Adams stresses the goal of republicanism is still a united Ireland, and were that ambition realised, republicans would act "creatively" to ensure unionists would be happy in such an environment.
He describes the SDLP and Mr John Hume's talk of a "post nationalist" Ireland as "nonsense".
"We have no wish to renegotiate the Good Friday agreement, and in our own lights we are honourable people. If we made a deal we made a deal, and we did."