Many existing top 20 Scottish writers have flourished in part because of good turns done by institutions, arts community, libraries and bookshops.

I'm proud of the culture I come from - we're a small country and a close-knit community.

You became the sum total of where you lived, where you shopped, which church you went to, how many kids you had and which taxi company you used, and you only associated with people who had the same responses on their list.

Writers need each other.

I'd never be where I am if more successful writers hadn't taken an interest in me and done me a good turn.

Everyone was important during the war. Everyone. We worked together and we won.