Where did you write Time Travelling with a Hamster?
I first started writing it when I lived in Sweden, but I didn’t really get going till I moved back to London. There are two main places I write: in my office in my home in London and, when I need to have no interruptions, I have a house in the country where it’s just me and the dog.
Who is your favourite character in Time Travelling with a Hamster and why?
I like them all in different ways, but Grandpa Byron is probably my favourite. He is funny, wise and kind and I love the way he talks!
How long did it take you to write Time Travelling with a Hamster?
From starting it in Sweden to showing it to an agent, about a year. But that was not full-time. Once I have a good idea, I like to get the first draft written as quickly as possible: a month is good but not always possible. Then you have to rewrite a few times till it’s exactly how you want it.
What advice do you have for young writers?
Most of my writing advice comes from other writers.
Terry Pratchett: “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”
Ernest Hemingway: “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”
To which I would add: “Finish it. No one wants a half-written story.”
How would you describe yourself as a child?
I was very unsporty: it left plenty of time for reading and watching television! I had plenty of friends and I loved the Scouts, but I also enjoyed solitary activities like learning the piano and magic tricks – both of which I still do.