What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

It's called 'CHAMELEON' and is set during the fall of Atlantis 12,000 years ago. It was inspired by things I'd been reading in the news about climate change and genetic modification, and I started to wonder whether this isn't the first time an advanced civilisation has experienced extreme conditions on Earth, and if so, what happened?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I always meditate for half an hour in a hut in my garden before I start writing each day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

The books I was reading in my early teens like 'The Silver Crown' by Robert O'Brien, 'The Changes' by Peter Dickinson, and 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Philippa Pearce are what stand out as big influences.

What are you working on now?

I'm working hard to get 'CHAMELEON' out next spring, so I'm currently editing the final typescript ready to hand it over to my copy editor later this month.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Write every day, even if you don't feel like it, and try using big diagrams and post-it notes when working out your plot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Write to please yourself, then your book will find its audience.

What are you reading now?

 I'm re-reading 'The House on the Strand' by Daphne du Maurier with my Book Group, and also finally getting round to 'His Dark Materials'.

What's next for you as a writer?

I want to explore the more literary side of Young Adult fiction, and create something dark, contemporary and contemplative.