'I have a PhD in nuclear physics, so anything to do with the big ideas of modern physics appeals... I do read a lot of crime fiction.'

I have a PhD in nuclear physics, so anything to do with the big ideas of modern physics appeals... I do read a lot of crime fiction, partly because it's essential to understand what's at the cutting edge of your own genre at any given moment.

'The coalmine makes me think of Dad, who worked down there in the dark and damp from the age of fourteen.'

The map is based loosely on the mining town where I grew up... The coalmine is where it always was. It makes me think of Dad, who worked down there in the dark and damp from the age of fourteen and never wanted that life for me.

'We can all be writers of the city. We move through them like a pen scribbles across a paper, adding and deleting. '

We can all be writers of the city. We move through them like a pen scribbles across a paper, adding and deleting. We avoid the threat, inertia and paranoia, and dream of freedom, possibility and excitement.

'Writing is my exteriority. I am safer, comforted, when my mind is clear before me on a page to see.'

Writing is my exteriority. I am safer, comforted, when my mind is clear before me on a page to see. Down there on a page is a better place to keep my thoughts than in my own head.

'I think the biggest surprise of my writing life is that no-one — but no-one — who isn't a writer really gets it.'

I think the biggest surprise of my writing life is that no-one — but no-one — who isn't a writer really gets it.

'The idea that writers are wealthy people is endemic. Children's and Young Adult writers are often asked to appear in schools for free, or send books to faraway places. '

The idea that writers are wealthy people is endemic. Children's and Young Adult writers are often asked to appear in schools for free, or send books to faraway places. Everybody knows of a handful of writers who are unimaginably wealthy.

'The advice I often give myself when feeling blocked, is just to carry on writing. Squeeze it out. Even if it feels like horrible nonsense.'

The advice I often give myself when feeling blocked, is just to carry on writing. Squeeze it out. Even if it feels like horrible nonsense. Keep the momentum going and all will turn good again further down the road.

'The real revelation for me was that the genius Beethoven came across as a very normal artist; one of us, in fact. '

The real revelation for me was that the genius Beethoven came across as a very normal artist; one of us, in fact. I changed absolutely nothing in the content. From the start of the letter he pulls no punches...

'Thinking of Shaw, newly arrived in London from Dublin to find everyone writing novels, I remember my own version of that unforgettable sense of failure.'

Thinking of Shaw, newly arrived in London from Dublin, heading hopefully for the British Museum to find everyone was writing novels, I remember the details of my own particular version of that profound and unforgettable sense of failure.

'Cliffs populated with soldier orchids, and purple thrifts, and sea hollies. Cliffs high enough to jump from, as the withered bouquets make clear.'

Cliffs populated with soldier orchids, and purple thrifts, and sea hollies. Cliffs high enough to jump from, as the withered bouquets, the teddies and football shirts tied to clifftop railings in temporary shrines, make clear.