Richard Evans

Q: What were you like at school?

Clever, but very lazy, which I've come to realise was not a good thing as my life goes on.

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

A surgeon, when I went into hospital aged 6 (but I later realised that I really don't like the sight of blood) so then it was an actor, which I later became.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Positive, smiley, encouraging

Q: What is your favourite word?

Yes!

Q: What makes you cringe?

Seeing embarassing scenes in movies or TV shows and wanting the people not to do them... I always seem to shout out NO, which is really embarassing!

Q: What are you afraid of?

falling and being hit by flying objects

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

Probably earlier today... I love laughing and do it as much as I can.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

That's a very difficult question to answer, as friends and family are not possessions, so I'll have to get back to you on that one, not being terribly materialistic.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

I enter competitions (and win occasionally too).

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I keep my watch 24 minutes fast - it's great brain training to subtract 24 minutes off the time when somebody asks you what time it is.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

A good roast with crispy potatoes.

Q: What do you day dream about?

achieving more than I do.

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

Pretended to be someone else (it's a long story!)

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

A professional lottery winner!... or should that be a daydream?!

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

Far younger!

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

Charlie Chaplin, to hear him talk.

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

Honesty.

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

Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam. It inspired me to read her book.

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

Never take advice!

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

My success on the Lottery!

Q: What has life taught you?

To be true to yourself and do unto others as you would be done by.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

On and off for over 20 years.

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

No, I felt inspired to write, so I did it.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

In my office at my desk.

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

The best is seeing your book on the shelves in a shop (or being read by somebody, though I've not yet done this) and the worst is having an idea but not being able to express it into words on paper.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Life experience.

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

Being a factual writer, I don't write characters, so I'd have to say myself!

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

I either walk around the block or take a shower... both free my mind to think and I can usually solve any problems doing either.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

Charlie and the Chocolate Fsctory by Roald Dahl... I longed for a golden ticket to meet Willy Wonka and checked every chocolate bar I unwrapped for many years after reading it!

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

The Harry Potter series - I wish I had that imagination.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I wrote a book to prove to myself that I could do it. I could and I did, and if I can, you can too - GO FOR IT!