Andrew Newbound

Q: What were you like at school?

A bit cheeky, and ever so slightly naughty.

Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?

Indiana Jones. I wanted to explore forgotten areas of the world and find missing treasure. Actually, I still do. :-)

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Big. Cheery. Daft.

Q: What is your favourite word?

Fantabulous.

Q: What makes you cringe?

When people try to be funny and amusing, but fail. Sometimes, that's me. Doh!

Q: What are you afraid of?

Spiders. Snakes. Creepy crawlies. And failure.

Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?

In a Halifax school, discussing the dreaded local disease Ludendendendendenfoot with a group of Year 5 schoolchildren. Awesome.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

Do dogs count? If so, it's gotta be Charlie my dog.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Visit beaches to collect pebbles, rocks and stones.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

Sometimes, when driving fast, I attempt to levitate myself off the seat and out of the sun roof. It almost worked once. Honest!!!

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Chocolate cake. Yummy.

Q: What do you day dream about?

Success!!

Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?

I once stopped a one day cricket international by smiling.

Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Hollywood actor. And darts player. How hard can either be?

Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?

I feel lots younger but look lots older.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

Muhammed Ali.

Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?

Honesty, wisdom and a bit of mischief.

Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?

The southern tip of Rhodes, where two oceans meet. It's a fantasic site.

Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Always think positive thoughts. I'm still trying to follow that advice. Sometimes I fail.

Q: What would you most like to change about yourself?

My Luck.

Q: What has life taught you?

Sometimes, I'm a bit unlucky.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

41 years.

Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?

When I read The Hobbit. I thought, 'I wanna do that too.'

Q: Where do you do your writing?

The spare room. Facing a wall, surrounded by laundry.

Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?

The best is inventing new chacters and visiting schools to discuss my work. The worst thing is having no one to talk to when things aren't going well.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

I have to work hard to create them. But overhearing snippets of odd conversations sometimes helps.

Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?

I think that has to be Rage.

Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?

I don't believe in writer's block. If you can't write what you want to write, write something else. It will get you started and make your creative juices flow again.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

The Hobbit, by J R R Tolkein.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

The Firm, by John Grisham.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Don't give up on your dream. Keep writing.