'These writers and those like them who leave the comfort of their writing sheds in order to shine a light on some of the world's darkest, most neglected or dangerous corners, inspire me.'

These writers and those like them who leave the comfort of their writing sheds in order to shine a light on some of the world's darkest, most neglected or dangerous corners, inspire me to bring these worlds to young readers.

'You'll discover rock music, alcohol and boys. Your writing will suddenly seem childish, stupid, worthless. You'll laugh at it.'

Though it seems unlikely now, you'll discover rock music, alcohol and boys. Your writing will suddenly seem childish, stupid, worthless. You'll laugh at it.

'History books changed my life, particularly social and feminist history because they showed me myself, and the world beyond my small boundaries.'

History books changed my life, particularly social and feminist history because they showed me myself, and the world beyond my small boundaries.

'Writing is itself a process of constant flux; it throws memory, the present, experiences, language and images into doubt. '

Writing is itself a process of constant flux; it throws memory, the present, experiences, language and images into doubt, or presents them all as potential material.

'Sallis' novels are among the best I've ever read. He really pushes the boundaries of what crime writing is.'

Sallis' novels are among the best I've ever read. He really pushes the boundaries of what crime writing is, and his more recent work has been full of existential exploration.

'"Christ!" she said to herself, then raised her voice, which luckily was rather strident, to insinuate herself into the thoughts of her creator, a writer called Regi Claire.'

"Christ!" she said to herself, then raised her voice which luckily was rather strident, to insinuate herself into the thoughts of her creator, a writer called Regi Claire who at that moment was sorting through the laundry bin.

'I can sit at my desk and a whole day will pass like this; the sky will brighten, darken and go black without me realising. This is an ideal state for me. '

I can sit at my desk and a whole day will pass like this; the sky will brighten, darken and go black without me realising. This is an ideal state for me. Too often, I'm interrupted.

'Characters in my non-adult novels come to me at the same stage in their lives as my readers and when I am alone with them in my head I have a strong sense of possibility.'

Characters in my non-adult novels come to me at the same stage in their lives as my readers and when I am alone with them in my head I have a strong sense of possibility.

'The jotter by the side of my bed for writing down my dreams still doesn't exist, but frequently I hop out of bed at 3 or 4 in the morning.'

The jotter by the side of my bed for writing down my dreams still doesn't exist, but frequently I hop out of bed at 3 or 4 in the morning, stub a toe while stumbling to my desk, and try to catch some thoughts down on paper.

'At the back are all the books I'm embarrassed to have read; the trashy romances, chick lit, badly written thrillers, comfort reading for a tired brain.'

At the back are all the books I'm embarrassed to have read; the trashy romances, chick lit, badly written thrillers, comfort reading for a tired brain.