We are living in glorious days where each readers' voice can be heard.

This is the cusp of an age at least as exciting and as brimful of potential as the early days of the printing press.

I'm drawn to the 1950s for lots of reasons - everything from the fashion to the increasing sense of freedom and modernity that builds throughout the decade.

I was asked the other day in which era I would choose to live. As a historical novelist, it comes up sometimes. As a woman I'd have to say I'd like to live in the future - I want to see where these centuries of change are leading us.

I believe the era of the militant lady is back.

When you think about the period in which Agatha Christie's crime novels were written, they are actually quite edgy for the time.

The 1950s is a key decade in the 20th Century. Each year has a distinctive flavour.