Sam Enthoven

Q: What were you like at school?

My body went to school but my mind was often elsewhere. Practising ninja stealth assassination techniques when I was supposed to be learning French vocabulary; piloting a starfighter in an epic space battle when I was supposed to be playing football - that sort of thing.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I talk to myself, loudly. That's fine when I'm at home alone writing but when I forget and do it while I'm walking around outside in the world? Not a good look.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Mexican Hot and Spicy Pizza. Mmm....

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

While I was still at school, playing a screaming guitar solo behind my head on my knees onstage at 8.40am in a morning assembly - that felt pretty good. I won't tell you about anything since in case it gets me into trouble. ;)

Q: What is your favourite word?

My favourite word changes all the time. I list them on Twitter, you can follow me if you like: http://twitter.com/samenthoven

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

I play guitar in a band called Sour Mash Daddy And His Sixty Wives. Go to our MySpace and have a listen if you're curious: http://www.myspace.com/sourmashdaddyandhissixtywives

Q: How long have you been a writer?

It's April 2010 as I'm typing this. I've been serious about my writing for about fifteen years now, but I've only been a published author since 2006. Early days yet. :D

Q: Where do you do your writing?

At home, in my bedroom, on a desk that I made out of two chests of drawers and the planks from a squashed wardrobe.

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

Best thing: You can spend the whole day on your own in a room making stuff up for a living. Worst thing: Same thing.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

I get my best ideas by sitting down and working for them - by asking myself questions. The best question to ask yourself when you're starting to think about a story is 'What sort of story would I most love to read?' What would you, personally, most love to find in a story? What sort of story would make you feel like you never want to stop reading it, even to eat or sleep, because you have to find out what happens next? Make a list if you like (that's how I started The Black Tattoo). Ask yourself how to put it all together. Then write it.

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

The baddies, BWA HA HA HA HA! -Oh, did I give myself away there? ;D

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

I think about what other authors have said about it. Philip Pullman: 'You don't hear about builders getting builders' block, or dentists getting dentists' block. If you're a writer your job is to sit there and make things up. So get on with it.' Stephen King: 'Sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it feels like all you're managing is to shovel s**t from a sitting position.' Every job has tough days, and writing's no different. You have to try to hang on to the reasons you started doing it in the first place - so I think it's crucial to be working on something you love and believe in (especially if nobody else does). See 'greatest ideas' above.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

All the ones I haven't written yet. I'd love to have a bigger list of published books to my name - especially if I could somehow avoid the work involved in actually creating them! :D

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

The best piece of writing advice I've ever come across is by the awesome thriller author Lee Child: 'Write the exact book that you yourself would be thrilled to read.'