Scotland consistently produces world-class writers.

Writers are a product of where we come from but by looking at alternatives to the culture in which we live, we can find ways to change and hopefully improve it.

My father could talk about the Romany way of life and its culture. He could talk about freedom and the Scottish spirit. But that was all he could talk about. I was desperate for someone to talk to but there was just nobody there.

Grabbing readers by the imagination is a writer's job.

Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.

Researching books gets you into nothing but trouble.

The law don't like jazz clubs. No one wants anything to do with that kind of trouble.