My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space, oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I inherited by osmosis.

My great-grandfather was a self-taught man, and his library was extraordinary. I read the lot.

My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space, oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I inherited by osmosis.

When you start, the world of publishing seems like a great cathedral citadel of talent, resisting attempts to let you inside. It isn't like that at all. It may be more difficult now, and take longer than when I started to write, but there's a great, empty warehouse out there looking for simple talent.

I learnt that I must never finish a book with nothing else to do.

I wish Monkeys could Skype. Maybe one day.

My attitude is that if anybody of any age wants to read a book, let them, but I do think that no child would want to read Boneland.