I don't read novels whilst I'm writing one; I just haven't got a wide enough brain to concentrate on incoming and outgoing in the same time zone.

When I wrote 'Dear Fatty,' I realised that sitting and writing alone is an absolute joy.

I'll always be a fat girl and I am happy with that.

Other than my memory being a bit woolly and my knees being a bit creaky, I don't really think there's anything I can't do.

My approach to parenting is that everything is open - everything. I'm not very good at covert, or subtle, and I've had to learn timing. I do blunder in a bit.

I am a kid in the dressing-up box at heart.

I do think you are supposed to go through wars with your child because otherwise the tearing apart that has to happen when they go off to lead their own life would be unbearable.