Judy Jackson

Q: What were you like at school?

I went to St. Paul's Girls School in London. I was shy, good at tennis and netball, worked hard to get good grades and adored languages. I hated physics, so I gave up all science at the age of 13 - what a mistake. Worst of all, I hated reading. Can't believe this now, since I am a writer. I'll tell you more about this another time.

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

Grown up

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Persistent, positive, family-centred

Q: What is your favourite word?

as someone said re Mozart - 'too many words'.

Q: What makes you cringe?

illiterate people twittering

Q: What are you afraid of?

losing my marbles

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

a few days ago - at a joke sent to me

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

dozens of photo albums

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

I make tiny models out of fimo - mostly food

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I take photos of things I can't bear to get rid of, then I get rid of the things.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, roasted onions,

Q: What do you day dream about?

selling millions of copies of my books

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

Started a cookery school with no experience of teaching

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

I'd like to be a pianist but I have no musical talent - other than listening and loving music.

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

younger. If I felt my age I wouldn't do half the things I do now

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

Amos Oz

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

The ability to listen

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

Venice

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

If you get a rejection note, get the manuscript back in the mail by the next post.

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

I'd like to have beautiful feet

Q: What has life taught you?

To appreciate all the blessings I've been given and to admire those who fight against adversity.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Since about 1980

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

No, it happened gradually. I started writing cookbooks as a result of inventing dishes for my cookery classes.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

Sitting at a computer looking out on to a beautiful magnolia tree in the garden

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

The best thing is that you work alone. The worst thing is that you work alone. I mean this: having no one to tell you how to structure your day is great. But then writing is a solitary business.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

reading other people's work

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

Nina, a character in my novel, that is actually me.

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

Thankfully, I've never had it.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

I didn't have one - I preferred to be out playing tennis.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Claudia Roden's book of Jewish Cookery

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Keep going, and if you can't get an agent or publisher, publish yourself.