David Orme

Q: What were you like at school?

A struggler. My teacher told my parents that 'I would never acheive anything'

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

By 11, I knew I wanted to be a writer

Q: Which three words describe you best?

My answer: Funny, Imaginative, Brilliant' My wife's answer: 'Grumpy old man'

Q: What makes you cringe?

Celebrity Game Shows

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

Playing with grandchildren.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

Who cares about possessions?

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Travel, take photographs of wild flowers, annoy people with silly emails.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

You'll have to ask my wife.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Sausages and rice pudding (But not together).

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

Usually younger, but the joints are beginning to creak . . .

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

Humour

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

St Kilda, the remotest island in Britain.

Q: What has life taught you?

Don't believe anything anyone tells you. Work it out for yourself.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Around 25 years

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

Yes - when I was eleven and I won a writing competition even though my handwriting was terrible and my spelling hopeless.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

Upstairs, tapping away at a computer.

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

There are no bad things!

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Real life - in fact, that's the only place to get ideas from.

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

Wu Pee, the Ninja wizard (Boffin Boy Series)

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

Writer's block doesn't exist! Don't believe any writer who says it does. Have you ever heard of 'teacher's block', or 'train drver's block?' It's just an excuse not to get on with it.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

Swallows and Amazons.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Anything that made millions!

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Write lots. it might be terrible to start with, but keep at it. Oh, and read loads.