I love writing journalism because it's all over in two hours and comes straight off the top of the head. Writing novels is soooooo much harder. It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

I went freelance in 1996 and my children are now teenagers and it seemed right.

When I'm called unkind... that really cuts to the quick. You can say anything else that you like about me.

I am a total coffee snob and bore. If anyone makes the mistake of offering me 'a coffee' they tend to regret it - I'm worse than Mariah Carey, and the hot milk rider is completely non-negotiable.

I want 'The Lady' magazine to be restored to its traditional place in the pantheon of weekly magazines.

If you tell the truth you get into trouble, and that's why politicians are extremely dull.

I think everyone can recognize the one-upmanship and the competition that go on wherever you are, especially among groups where the women don't have to hold down office jobs and instead get in a total snit about who won the longest carrot contest or took first prize for summer chutney in the August fete.