FAQ

What inspires you?

When people ask this I never know quite how to respond. Writing is my job; I do it every day. Like most writers, I rely a lot more on perspiration than inspiration. (Maybe more than most: I average over half-a-dozen full drafts.) I’m curious about all sorts of things and any time I get an idea or topic that fascinates me I follow it and see where it goes. Sometimes that’s nowhere. Other times it’s a novel. The only way to find out is to put in the time.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere! The world is full of ideas. I travel a lot, I read constantly, I’m always asking questions.

Do you have any pets?

Yes! I’m typing this with my cavoodle Cava draped across my lap. We have a whole horde of cats in the barn, as well as several horses: Sarah, my large grey mare; Merlin, my daughter’s handsome rescue; Pal, the world’s sweetest horse, now 34 years old (!) and the emotional model for Butter in The War That Saved My Life; and T, my gentleman rental horse. (If you think from this paragraph that I like ponies more than cats, you’re right. Bovril was Jamie’s idea.)