After I'd been a lawyer for about five or six years, I started playing around with fiction.

My mum was never too keen on TV, so we kids all went to the library and got books out. Right from the start, I loved the works of Mark Twain. Every time I read about Tom Sawyer, I'd go out and do something low-level naughty, just like him.

The first thing my family did when we moved was join the local church. The second was to go to the library and get library cards.

Once again, I was reminded that Tally was the prettiest girl I'd ever met, and when she smiled at me my mind went blank. Once you've seen a pretty girl naked, you feel a certain attachment to her.

I don't want to force my politics on my readers.

Every morning I wake at 6am or 6.30am, champing at the bit.

You need some coffee, don't you?" "Yes, I've only had a gallon.