I often write in my parents’ farm office. It’s a cold room so I wrap a blanket round my shoulders and attempt to work the unfathomable wall heater. I sweep cattle passports, bills for chicken food and adverts for worming potions from the desk and unzip my shiny new lap top. I sit in the spinning office chair and feel efficient.

At first I am alert for possible telephone calls or distant howls relating to my baby son or small daughter (being looked after by grandparents) But as soon as I’ve switched on the computer and have read the last thing I’ve written, I’m sucked into working and write like a demon. I laugh at my own jokes and wince at my spelling. I gibber in delight if a wicked or unexpected idea comes to me.

When I get bored of this I whirl in the chair until I feel sick or look out of the window at my mother’s turkeys who get fatter every visit.

Beyond the turkey house are sweeping meadows. I watch pheasants, sheep, cats, cows, buzzards and horses all getting up to their business. I spy on foxes prowling deep in the meadows and fear for the turkeys’ welfare.

If I’m still distracted, I creep up into the kitchen and steal chocolate biscuits from the larder, making sure no-one catches me. Then I belt back into my freezing room and write some more.
My allotted time always flies by and before I know it, I’m back wrestling with nappies and toddler politics.

Winning the 2007 Manchester Book prize

I was so delighted to have been short listed for the prize, and was longing to go to the awards ceremony. However I was nine months pregnant, the baby was imminent and Manchester seemed a long way from home. To be safe I needed a helicopter and a personal midwife. It wasn’t happening.

When Marion, my publisher, phoned from the ceremony to tell me I’d won, I was lying in bed like a massive insect, barely able to turn over to reach the phone. (which I’d kept by my side so Marion could ring me the minute she could tell me anything)

I heard lots of children shouting and cheering and felt overwhelmed. It was like a dream. I was in bed, after all.

Beast was my first book, so to win this prize was very special indeed.