Jon Blake

Q: What were you like at school?

Confident but rebellious.

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

A author, then a journalist, then prime minister, occasionally a lighthouse keeper.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Enthusiastic, opinionated, shy.

Q: What is your favourite word?

I have so many. Coruscating, provenance, sonorous, plangent - English is a great language. So is Welsh, with words like popty (bakery) ysbyty (hospital) and cwch (hidey-hole or cuddle).

Q: What makes you cringe?

Simon Cowell.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Heights, and so much more! I generally give a wide berth to anything likely to cause death.

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

Last time I was with Jordi ( my little boy).

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My mum's old kitchen scales.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Make music on my portastudio, protest against many injustices.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

Waking at least two times a night. Going to supermarkets.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Guacamole (mashed avocado and garlic) on toast.

Q: What do you day dream about?

A few more people noticing what great books I've written!

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

Driven around Nottingham late at night having never had a driving lesson (not recommended).

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

Psychotherapist.

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

Younger, till I look in the mirror.

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

Lenin.

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

Bravery in putting others before themselves.

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

Iceland.

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

Shut up.

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

To be better at resting.

Q: What has life taught you?

Organise yourself to avoid getting into bad moods.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

My first story was published in 1984.

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

I planned to be a writer when I was at infants school. When I was at college I decided to have a career first, but always with the intention of eventually writing.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

After 25 years as a writer I finally have my own office at home - before that I wrote in my bedroom.

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

Best - spending my time making up stories, then reading them in schools. Worst - too much time home alone, not being part of a team.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Some electronic signals in my brain.

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

Icky and Bryan in the House of Fun series - Icky for his enthusiasm and impatience, Bryan for his unfortunate habit of reminding people how much he knows.

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

I do something else.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

The House At Pooh Corner.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Year One of the Russian Revolution by Victor Serge.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Get a job and be prepared to write a million words in your spare time before you get published. Oh, and mind you have something interesting to write about.