Gill Jepson

Q: What were you like at school?

I was quiet and shy at school and not very confident. I loved school especially history, art and English and enjoyed learning.

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

An archaeologist or historian

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Determined, honest, caring

Q: What is your favourite word?

Promulgate

Q: What makes you cringe?

Having my photo taken and having to promote myself

Q: What are you afraid of?

Failure

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

At the weekend when my family visited for Mother's day

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My family photographs

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

I research my family tree and do lots of walking

Q: What do you day dream about?

Having my books made into films-preferably by Mr Spielberg or Mr Jackson!

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

Oh much much younger!

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

Honesty and fairness

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

Pompeii-an amazing place

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

My dad used to say "you are as good as anyone else and better than most"-which I suppose means believe in yourself!

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

Apart from losing some weight I would like to procrastinate less

Q: What has life taught you?

Never to give up even when things seem hopeless-everything passes eventually

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I mutter to myself when I'm alone...doesn't everybody?

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Cumberland sausage, onions and gravy

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

The Keswick to Barrow Walk...nobody believed I could possibly do it-being rather plump and sports phobic-but Im doing my 8th 40 mile walk this year for charity

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

Historical researcher

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

Eric Morecambe

Q: How long have you been a writer?

From being about six years old-but only seriously in recent years

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

After my dad died in 2004 -I wanted to record his stories and things he had told us when we were children

Q: Where do you do your writing?

In the dining room overlooking the garden and fields

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

Best-I get lost in my work and forget everything Worst-trying to market my books and spread the word

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

People and places and of course history

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

Brother John Stell...in the first book

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

I don't get this too much thank goodness-but walking in the lovely Cumbrian countryside helps immensely

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Lord of the Rings

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Read lots of books, write as much and as often as you can and have a notebook with you at all times to note down ideas-especially if you wake up in the night...write it down or you will forget!