Copywriters, journalists, mainstream authors, ghostwriters, bloggers and advertising creatives have as much right to think of themselves as good writers as academics, poets, or literary novelists.

Researching books gets you into nothing but trouble.

Scotland just isn't terribly Tory.

There is something particularly fascinating about seeing places you know in a piece of art - be that in a film, or a photograph or painting.

Writers of novels live in a strange world where what's made up is as important as what's real.

I believe the era of the militant lady is back.

For a novelist, the gaps in a story are as intriguing as material that still exists.