'Out of the blue, my husband phoned me at work to advise me that publisher had called, and wanted to meet me for a chat.'

Out of the blue, my husband phoned me at work to advise me that a publisher had called; having read my manuscript, they liked what they had seen, and wanted to meet me for a chat. To say I was surprised is really an understatement.

'Dorothea Brande's Becoming A Writer is premised on the idea that the writer is essentially two people: the artist child and the adult critic.'

Dorothea Brande's Becoming A Writer is premised on the technique of automatic writing and the idea that the writer is essentially two people: the artist child and the adult critic. If either is allowed the upper hand, trouble will follow.

'I thought I was writing history, a novel for teenagers that told the story of British involvement in the Spanish Civil War; my editor called it a 'political romance'.'

I thought I was writing history, a novel for teenagers that told the story of British involvement in the Spanish Civil War — not something much covered at school — but my editor surprised me by calling it a 'political romance'.

'As a writer, you're only in control of how good the work is. None of this means I don't feel it, if something is rejected. '

As a writer, you're only in control of how good the work is. None of this means I don't feel it, if something is rejected. I know how it's going to feel now and I map out a plan. Sometimes I use visualisation to help.

'It's all very well having an idea for a novel, or a topic for a non-fiction book, but it's folly to think the ability to write leaks out of the atmosphere.'

Reading provides an immersion in the craft. It's all very well having an idea for a novel, or a topic for a non-fiction book, but it's folly to think the ability to write leaks out of the atmosphere.

'Let's see, what else is in here? Of course, the Mr Trubshaw stories! Various people still occasionally ask me, whatever happened to Mr Trubshaw? '

Let's see, what else is in here? Of course, the Mr Trubshaw stories! Various people still occasionally ask me, whatever happened to Mr Trubshaw? A baby who chairs meetings of the other characters, his toys.

'As writers, we are all anthropologists, observing the natives and commenting on their customs. As writers, we can tap into that feeling of being an outsider.'

As writers, we are all anthropologists, observing the natives and commenting on their customs. As writers, we can tap into that feeling of being an outsider in order to document the human soul.

'Ultimately, life-writing needs to move outside the self if it is to find a place in the world; beyond the experience of catharsis for the writer.'

Ultimately, life-writing needs to move outside the self if it is to find a place in the world; beyond the experience of catharsis for the writer, the stories must resonate with readers, who recognise them as their own.

'Now when I write, it is sporadically, erratically. I've largely reverted to nature; rambling detours through overgrown thickets.'

Now when I write, it is sporadically, erratically. I've largely reverted to nature. Now that it is no longer possible to take the short, efficient route down our well-weeded pathways, I embark upon rambling detours through overgrown thickets.

'I wake my partner, Dave, with coffee. He's a writer too, but he's not a morning person. Despite this fundamental difference between us, we're co-writers.'

I wake my partner, Dave, with coffee. He's a writer too, but he's not a morning person. Despite this fundamental difference between us, we're co-writers of a fantasy crime trilogy. The second instalment is due to the publisher in twenty days.