A few more of these 50 Author questions.

What is the first book that made you cry?

A Church Missal. Someone threw one at me.

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I don’t know if I would say I’m friends with anyone… I’m a little bit shy. But I get some good feedbacks and of course I read many of the posts from other writers here on Tumblr which make me think more about what I’m doing.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

Well, I have now been to Jane Austen’s childhood home as it’s quite nearby. Did you know she grew potatoes?

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? 

Just making myself sit down and write really. Often I know what it is I want to write, but I have to make myself do it and avoid any other distractions.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? 

I wouldn’t choose a spirit animal, but for a mascot/avatar I’m quite happy with old Dingbot there. If you then him on and let him go, he’ll bump into wall. But then he’ll back off, and then he’ll bump into the wall again, and then again and again and… actually I’m not sure where I’m going with this. That’s all he does is bump into things. But he does keep trying, I guess.