Nick Green

Q: What were you like at school?

I was one of a bunch of extremely odd kids who used to hang around the school ponds pretending to sword fight with pointy leaves. I should point out this was secondary school.

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

Lots of things - astronaut and scientist, mainly. Then I realised the demand for maths and switched to writer - much easier.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

That's. Not. Funny.

Q: What is your favourite word?

Tea.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Driving.

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

When I discovered Miranda Hart.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

A wooden box made by my great-great grandfather, which is a bit like John Masefield's 'Box of Delights', at least to me. I doubt it's worth anything but as an heirloom it's very special.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Frustrated musketeer (I fence with swords and ride horses - but rarely).

Q: What strange habits do you have?

Turning off dripping taps wherever I find them.

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

Not saying.

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

Happiness.

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

India

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

Don't hire a rickshaw (in India).

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

My eyesight.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Effectively, since I could write!

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

The best ideas come from ideas I already have. When two ideas can be connected by a third that 'just fits', like completing a jigsaw puzzle, a story suddenly comes alive.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

I would not wish to have written any book I have enjoyed; I'd rather stay as the reader. So it would have to be a book I loathe but which made shedloads of cash. Mm!

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

You have to love the writing itself. Don't think of publication, and certainly not fame and fortune. If you don't love writing you'll never put up with being a writer.