Keren David

Q: What were you like at school?

At primary school - hard-working and creative. At secondary school - quiet and terminally bored.

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

A writer. Then I thought I might work for Radio 1. Then I wanted to be a journalist but my careers teacher thought I was too quiet. She was wrong.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Heights. Lightening. Accidents. Rollercoasters.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

I go and see a lot of films and I like walking, swimming and cycling.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

My mum's lamb stew.

Q: What do you day dream about?

The book I'm writing at the moment

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

Not telling!

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

I'd love to be an art therapist. In a parallel universe I'd be a dancer.

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

Writing for teenagers makes me feel younger but going to the gym makes me feel older.

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

Kindness

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

Cambodia - especially the temple where the trees have wound themselves into the fabric of the building.

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

Stay calm

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

I'd like to lose weight and get a lot fitter. I'm working on it.

Q: What has life taught you?

You can survive the bitterest blows, but sometimes you need to ask for help.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Impatient, inquisitive, disorganised

Q: What makes you cringe?

Being asked 'Are you going to be the next JK Rowling?'

Q: How long have you been a writer?

All my life - since I was 18 as a professional journalist.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

I flit from cafe to cafe.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Newspapers

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

Ty in When I Was Joe although he's a boy, 14 and a Catholic and I am none of those things.

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

I make myself write even if I know it's not good enough

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

A book called Masha by Mara Kay about a nineteenth century Russian girl sent away to boarding school. Now tragically out of print.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

When I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman I experienced sharp pains from envy, the writing is so good.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Just do it. It's only a first draft.