Your questions

Roughly speaking, about a year for me. Some can do it quicker, some longer. Unfortunately, I have to fit my writing around my day job, so it takes a little while. And that’s just the first draft - the thing with writing is that you’ll always need to go back and change, edit and re-write. And then the publisher gets its hands on it…!! So in some ways it’s very hard to answer this question. From the very first idea I had for Out of Shadows to the day the final version was delivered to Andersen Press I reckon three years had passed… but if you want something that badly you’ll happily wait that long. Patience is a good thing to have when you’re a writer!

From everywhere! Life is a great inspiration, and everyone has one of those to tap into. You might THINK yours might be boring, but it’s not. Dig deep, look around. Also, no writer ever made his or her way without creative arts around them, so read, read and read books, watch movies, watch plays. All of that. And if anything ideas come to you, WRITE THEM DOWN… Nothing is worse than knowing you had a good idea, just not what it was.

Anything. Everything. Usually fiction, but I also do a lot of research for my books so non-fiction also gets a good look in. I’m really good at not finishing books, as I often think I can do better or I just want to get going on my own writing. That’s not a bad thing. The main thing - whether it’s a good book or bad book I’m reading - it helps fire me up.

Write. A lot. And read. And above all keep doing all of that. It’s soooo easy to be dis-heartened when writing. You’ll hate it. You’ll loathe it. You’ll get bored with it. But never ever give up, because you’ll never publish anything if you haven’t finished it. Just. Keep. Going. I was 40 when my first book finally got published.

With a pained expression! But seriously… I used to write the old-fashioned way, with a notebook and pen. There was something magical about doing that. However, because I find I have to wedge writing time into my life, an iPad is easer and less inky. Sometimes on a laptop too. But you won’t find any secret to writing here - just do it, in whichever way you prefer. Don’t copy me or anyone else.

Definitely not. I had a great school. Like everyone, there were times I felt it wasn’t so great, or it was tough. And it was. But ultimately I wouldn’t change it for anything. Out of Shadows is fiction, and I just used my experiences and added spice to them to make a good read.

Almost certainly not. I loved writing those books, but I don’t know how I could continue either. I’ve kind of said all I have to with each of those stories. I never say never, but I think it’s almost definitely a no! On the other hand, new stories are far more enticing…

I’ve just finished one, which my agent is taking a look at. I like it, but that’s no guarantee it’ll get published. As the saying goes, watch this space…