On Twitter, people who had read my book followed me and I could see what else they were reading, why they'd liked what I'd written and by the by, more about them than I'd ever elicit from two minutes in a tent at a book festival, stuck behind a signing desk.

I spend a lot of time imagining things - in fact, you could say that imagining things is my job.

I'm a professional writer and I consider it part of my job to publicise my work and these days part of that job is done online.

People make interesting assumptions about the profession. The writer is a mysterious figure, wandering lonely as a cloud, fired by inspiration, or perhaps a cocktail or two.

For a novelist, the gaps in a story are as intriguing as material that still exists.

Edinburgh is a comfortable puddle for a novelist.

As a novelist it is my job to tell stories that inspire and entertain but I am increasingly mindful that many of these historical tales (which of themselves are fascinating) relate directly to our issues in society today.

As a historical novelist, there are few jobs more retrospective.

I realised early on that being an author is a hugely misunderstood job.