'Newspaper stories act as one of my biggest writing inspirations. I've often come across a random story which gets my imagination going.'

Newspaper stories act as one of my biggest writing inspirations. I've often come across a random story which gets my imagination going and acts as a way in, and a starting point to explore a new world.

'Whenever anything awful happened somewhere in the world, I would be sent there: fly out Wednesday; file the copy Friday, update it Saturday; home again Sunday. '

Whenever anything awful happened somewhere in the world, I would be sent there: fly out Wednesday; file the copy Friday, update it Saturday; home again Sunday.

'Getting angry is bad for you. Incidentally, getting angry with editors is more than just bad, it's stupid; they always have the last laugh.'

Just relax. Getting angry is bad for you. Incidentally, getting angry with editors is more than just bad, it's stupid; they always have the last laugh. Count to ten.

'I can't move on to the body of the text until I've written a satisfactory beginning, and to get this right I have to have at least a notion of where I want to end.'

I can't move on to the body of the text until I've written a satisfactory beginning, and to get this right I have to have at least a notion of where I want to end.

'There's a Library Shelf in the living room where all the through-traffic is stored; library books, obviously, plus books borrowed from friends.'

There's a Library Shelf in the living room where all the through-traffic is stored; library books, obviously, plus books borrowed from friends and books I think friends might like to borrow.

'The focus you get from knowing young exactly what you want to do in life and being determined to do it is a huge psychological advantage. '

I had to write drama. I was changed forever. The focus you get from knowing young exactly what you want to do in life and being determined to do it is a huge psychological advantage.

'Every writer comes to a point where the gains outweigh the risks, where the financial burden is second to wanting to just do it.'

It's a leap in the dark. But every writer comes to a point where the gains outweigh the risks, where the financial burden is second to wanting to just do it.

'Let's face it. Basically, you're on your own, and ultimately, boringly, it's discipline isn't it?'

Let's face it. Basically, you're on your own, and ultimately, boringly, it's discipline isn't it? Fiction and non-fiction, the same rules apply.

'I am the scribe. I record, I argue, I raise awareness and I try to persuade others through my words.'

I don't aspire to be an inadequate orator, or chant slogans, or heckle speakers. I am the scribe. I record, I argue, I raise awareness and I try to persuade others through my words.

'What held me was the brilliant, innovative and charming way in which Stone presented the people he had met during his research.'

What held me was the brilliant, innovative and charming way in which Stone presented the people he had met during his research; the men, women and children whose lives had been affected.