If there is a heaven, Jane Austen is sitting in a small room with Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, listening to Duran Duran, forever. If there's a hell, she's standing.

I tend to plan as I write. And I want to leave myself open and the character open to keep on going until it seems to be the time to stop.

The best way to reveal a character is to get them to open their mouths.

No matter how close to personal experience a story might be, inevitably you are going to get to a part that isn't yours and, actually, whether it happened or not becomes irrelevant. It is all about choosing the right words.

Do be kind to yourself. Fill pages as quickly as possible; double space, or write on every second line. Regard every new page as a small triumph. Until you get to page 50. Then calm down, and start worrying about the quality. Do feel anxiety - it's the job.

The problem with being Irish... is having 'Riverdance' on your back. It's a burden at times.

I'm going to sound like an old man but at my age, it's lovely doing something that you've never done before.