So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about morality and proper use of natural resources that were radically different from ours, as the Europeans were from the American Indians.

I think the diversity of authors and readers is expanding, which is wonderful, because it means the type of story being told is also expanding.

Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.

As far as the writing goes, I started telling stories as soon as I could talk, and started writing them down as soon as I could string words together.

I think people enjoy a series. When you like a story, many readers want more of the same, which is dandy, if the author and the characters have more to say.

I suppose if I was to have to pick a few, Ursula LeGuin would have to top the list. It was while reading her work that I decided I wanted to be an author.

Fortunately, many people also enjoy a stand-alone as a sample of something new, like trying the special at a favourite restaurant one night instead of going for the usual.