I have dipped into Ian McEwan and so on. I tend not to stick with one writer. But I dip in here and there.

I don't want to pay good money to hear ordinary people's lunatic views. Most of the people who phone in are [lunatics] - certainly in Britain.

I find the public reaction to writing - it's fascinating in this modern age. Of course people are able to interact with me and email me, and I get quite a few I suppose.

I would love to write a book that opens people's eyes to the more interesting side.

In both places [Paraguay and Newfoundland] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments.

India, to some extent, courses through my blood. My father was brought up there, and my grandfather served there, and so on. We have a very strong family affinity for the place.

Paraguayans have no Italian blood and are half Guarani [Indian] blood. And the Chileans call themselves "the English of South America," which actually couldn't be further from the truth.