'I am, if not addicted to words, at the very least word-dependent. One contributory factor to this word-dependence is the fact that I was a very sickly child. '

I am, if not addicted to words, at the very least word-dependent. At least one contributory factor to this word-dependence is the fact that I was a very sickly child. Infantile asthma kept me home and abed roughly three days out of seven.

'Since earliest childhood, when words first began to form riotous assemblies in my prissy and precocious little bonce, I have been composing for an ideal reader: you.'

Since earliest childhood, when words first began to form riotous assemblies in my prissy and precocious little bonce, I have been composing for a composite, a melded, amalgam, ideal reader: yes, you.

'As a novelist, those stories I've set largely in the countryside have proceeded faster than those set in towns.'

As a novelist, those stories I've set largely in the countryside have proceeded faster than those set in towns. You don't need as many proper nouns in the countryside; street names, railway lines, architectural details.

'In dreams, I revel at the symbolism of shifting shapes. It takes a while to unpack meaning, and that is the process of writing.'

In dreams, I revel at the symbolism of shifting shapes. It takes a while to unpack meaning, and that is the process of writing; the hybrid shapes unravel as logical and integrated backstories for the characters.

'I'm rediscovering the reasons why I wanted to write in the first place; for the pleasure of creating and living in worlds which belong to me.'

In some ways I'm rediscovering the reasons why I wanted to write in the first place; for the pleasure of creating and living in the worlds which belong to me, and no one else until I invite them in.

'The English version is in the bottom drawer, but the German translated version had a wonderful life at a theatre in Heilbronn, as did the next play.'

The English version is in the bottom drawer, but the German translated version had a wonderful life at a theatre in Heilbronn, as did the next play about stroke. So science and health drive my inspiration it would appear...

'There has to be rejection, otherwise the poor readers of the world would be even more submerged in badly written rubbish than they are already.'

There has to be rejection, otherwise the poor readers of the world would be even more submerged in badly written rubbish than they are already. But how easy it is to say that, and how hard to take it.

'Sometimes readers get in touch to tell me how they've been affected by things I've written. In the interchanges that develop I often get to know them.'

Sometimes readers get in touch to tell me how they've been affected by things I've written. In the interchanges that develop I often get to know them, and invariably I learn a lot from their reaction.

'The wonder and generosity in her books make them irresistible. Simply put, Susan Fletcher creates worlds I want to live in.'

The wonder and generosity in her books make them irresistible. Simply put, Susan Fletcher creates worlds I want to live in, and of her seven novels I honestly couldn't choose a favourite.

'I tend to read what I am trying to write. So, novels, when I am in the thick of a novel of my own and short stories when I'm trying to master that most difficult of forms.'

I tend to read what I am trying to write. So, novels, when I am in the thick of a novel of my own and short stories when I'm trying to master that most difficult of forms.