'I became an author at the age of nine, selling my magazine 'Stories' (nice, clear explanatory title) at school for two old pence. Typed on my mother's typewriter, it was not a bestseller, but taught me some valuable lessons, most vitally that every chapter should end on a cliffhanger.
I have never stopped enjoying writing, although for many years wrote no fiction at all; I was a journalist and thought that the best fun until I discovered that making it all up was even better.
There are two basic joys: one is playing God and creating a whole world, families, houses, cities, woods, offices, even the weather; the other is finding out every day what will befall my characters. I never ever really know until I've written it'.
