Change occurs slowly. Very often a legal change might take place but the cultural shift required to really accept its spirit lingers in the wings for decades.
I love writing, and just as much, I love undertaking research.
As it stands there is a very strong argument that as the book trade becomes increasingly corporate it's our literary heritage that is at risk - a vital part of our culture.
You spill a lot of beans in historical fiction. Crime fiction is about spilling no beans at all. You spill the least beans you possibly can. So because I had already written historical fiction before...
Looking at my life through the lens of history has made me increasingly grateful to standout women who pushed those boundaries to make the changes from which I have benefited.
A paucity of material can open up just as many possibilities.
Having instant feedback on twitter to research material I'm considering is an enormous help.
New technologies and resources offer exciting opportunities. They democratise access to information.
On of the prerequisites for my mobile phone is that I have to be able to fling it at a wall if I lose my temper.
I've always been attracted to stories about rebels - things that are unusual and sometimes dangerous.
I believe the era of the militant lady is back.
I find it inspiring to actively choose which traditions to celebrate and also come up with new ideas for traditions of my own.
One of Scotland's most important cultural exports - stories.
The telling of any character is what they do in a different situation.
An eerie atmosphere leeched from the soot-damaged walls. It was as if the house had died, and yet she felt she belonged here. It was as if the old place wanted to claim her from the grave.
I'm a library user and I just don't hoard books. To me, they're for sharing.
Sometimes I create a character from a scrap - a mere mention that has been left behind.
Researching books gets you into nothing but trouble.
We have more choice than ever before about where and how we buy and read books.
I know a lot of writers, and everyone works differently, but this is something that we truly have in common across all genres - the fiction has to be real inside your head.
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